Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lowell, MA
VS
St. Paul, MN
🏆 St. Paul leads 15 of 23 categories
Lowell
Massachusetts
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,008 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
114,737
St. Paul
Minnesota
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,919
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
308,806 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lowell, MA
Pros
14% less violent crime than St. Paul
Milder winters — January highs near 34°F vs 24°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Households earn $3,089 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $362,800
Violent crime (532.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,466/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
St. Paul, MN
Pros
Homes cost $98k less ($264,900 vs $362,800)
Rent averages $292/mo less ($1,174 vs $1,466)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 42.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Lowell
Cons
Violent crime (617.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2834.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 40" of snow per year
Median income trails Lowell by $3,089/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Lowell
Median Income
$3,089
$73,008 vs $69,919/yr
Lowell
Violent Crime
14% lower
532.5 vs 617.7 per 100k
St. Paul
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 104.5 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
St. Paul
Median Home Value
$98k less
$264,900 vs $362,800
St. Paul
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lowell, MA | St. Paul, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $362,800⚠ High | $264,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,466⚠ High | $1,174 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,008 ✓ Higher | $69,919 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.2 min | 23.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 15.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High ✓ Safer | 163⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.3% | 42.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.8% | 88.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lowell | Saint Paul Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.0°F ✓ Warmer | 23.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F ✓ Warmer | 82.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.5" | 29.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.0" | 40.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,737 | 308,806 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.6 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.3% | 53.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 11.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lowell's cost of living index is 111.6 vs St. Paul's 104.5 (US average = 100).
St. Paul is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, St. Paul leads 15 of 23 categories. Lowell wins 8 and St. Paul wins 15. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Lowell to St. Paul or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($362,800 vs $264,900 median home), income ($73,008 vs $69,919), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lowell, MA and St. Paul, MN are about 1,095 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.