Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lowell, MA
VS
Tacoma, WA
🏆 Tacoma leads 12 of 23 categories
Lowell
Massachusetts
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,008
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
114,737
Tacoma
Washington
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$79,085 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
280⚠ High
Population
219,234 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lowell, MA
Pros
50% less violent crime than Tacoma
Homes cost $53k less ($362,800 vs $415,300)
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
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)
Median income trails Tacoma by $6,077/yr
Snowy winters — about 59" of snow per year
Tacoma, WA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 34°F
Households earn $6,077 more per year on average
More college-educated — 32.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 85°F
Cons
Violent crime (1063.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Pricier housing — median home is $415,300
Property crime (5603.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Lowell
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 111.6 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Lowell
Violent Crime
50% lower
532.5 vs 1063.0 per 100k
Lowell
Median Home Value
$53k less
$362,800 vs $415,300
Lowell
Summer Heat
7.9°F warmer
July avg high 84.7°F vs 76.8°F
Tacoma
Median Income
$6,077
$79,085 vs $73,008/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lowell, MA | Tacoma, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $362,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $415,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,466⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,489⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,008 | $79,085 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.2 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 12.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer | 275⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High ✓ Safer | 280⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 ✓ Safer | 267⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.3% | 32.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.8% | 90.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lowell | Tacoma School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.0°F | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F ✓ Warmer | 76.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.5" | 40.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.0" | 5.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,737 | 219,234 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.6 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.3% | 56.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lowell's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Tacoma's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Lowell is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tacoma leads 12 of 23 categories. Lowell wins 11 and Tacoma wins 12. 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 Tacoma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($362,800 vs $415,300 median home), income ($73,008 vs $79,085), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lowell, MA and Tacoma, WA are about 2,476 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.