Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lowell, MA
VS
Sugar Land, TX
🏆 Sugar Land leads 17 of 23 categories
Lowell
Massachusetts
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,008
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High
Population
114,737 ✓ Larger
Sugar Land
Texas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$132,247 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
21 ✓ Safer
Population
110,077
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lowell, MA
Pros
Rent averages $402/mo less ($1,466 vs $1,868)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 94°F
Homes cost $25k less ($362,800 vs $387,900)
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Sugar Land by $59,239/yr
Violent crime (532.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Sugar Land
Sugar Land, TX
Pros
Households earn $59,239 more per year on average
85% less violent crime than Lowell
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (78.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 34°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.0%)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,868/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $387,900
Key Differences at a Glance
Lowell
Median Home Value
$25k less
$362,800 vs $387,900
Sugar Land
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Sugar Land
Median Income
$59,239
$132,247 vs $73,008/yr
Sugar Land
Violent Crime
85% lower
78.0 vs 532.5 per 100k
Sugar Land
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.7% unemployment
Sugar Land
Summer Heat
9.5°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 84.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lowell, MA | Sugar Land, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $362,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $387,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,466⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,868⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,008 | $132,247 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.2 min ✓ Shorter | 30.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 16.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 116⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High | 21 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 | 66 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.3% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.8% | 94.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lowell | FORT BEND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.0°F | 64.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.5" ✓ Drier | 54.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,737 ✓ Larger | 110,077 |
| Median Age | 34.6 | 42.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.3% | 81.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 22.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 18.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lowell's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Sugar Land's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Sugar Land is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sugar Land leads 17 of 23 categories. Lowell wins 6 and Sugar Land wins 17. 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 Sugar Land or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($362,800 vs $387,900 median home), income ($73,008 vs $132,247), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lowell, MA and Sugar Land, TX are about 1,620 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.