Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lowell, MA
VS
Tyler, TX
🏆 Tyler leads 17 of 23 categories
Lowell
Massachusetts
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,008 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High
Population
114,737 ✓ Larger
Tyler
Texas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,056
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
106,440
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lowell, MA
Pros
Households earn $9,952 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
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
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Tyler
Tyler, TX
Pros
Homes cost $158k less ($205,200 vs $362,800)
27% less violent crime than Lowell
Rent averages $353/mo less ($1,113 vs $1,466)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Lowell
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 34°F
Cons
Median income trails Lowell by $9,952/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Lowell
Median Income
$9,952
$73,008 vs $63,056/yr
Tyler
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 92.4 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Tyler
Violent Crime
27% lower
391.2 vs 532.5 per 100k
Tyler
Median Home Value
$158k less
$205,200 vs $362,800
Tyler
Summer Heat
8.4°F warmer
July avg high 93.1°F vs 84.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lowell, MA | Tyler, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $362,800⚠ High | $205,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,466⚠ High | $1,113 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,008 ✓ Higher | $63,056 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.2 min | 20.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 116⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 ✓ Safer | 91 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.3% | 31.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.8% | 87.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lowell | TYLER ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.0°F | 57.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F | 93.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.5" | 47.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.0" | 0.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,737 ✓ Larger | 106,440 |
| Median Age | 34.6 | 34.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.3% | 54.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 22.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 16.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lowell's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Tyler's 92.4 (US average = 100).
Tyler is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tyler leads 17 of 23 categories. Lowell wins 6 and Tyler 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 Tyler or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($362,800 vs $205,200 median home), income ($73,008 vs $63,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lowell, MA and Tyler, TX are about 1,489 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.