Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lowell, MA
VS
Waco, TX
🏆 Waco leads 16 of 23 categories
Lowell
Massachusetts
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,008 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High
Population
114,737
Waco
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,421
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
140,545 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lowell, MA
Pros
Households earn $25,587 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 95°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $362,800
Higher rents — median is $1,466/mo
Violent crime (532.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Waco
Waco, TX
Pros
Homes cost $189k less ($174,100 vs $362,800)
Rent averages $428/mo less ($1,038 vs $1,466)
20% less violent crime than Lowell
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Lowell
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.5%)
Cons
Median income trails Lowell by $25,587/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Lowell
Median Income
$25,587
$73,008 vs $47,421/yr
Waco
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Waco
Violent Crime
20% lower
425.9 vs 532.5 per 100k
Waco
Median Home Value
$189k less
$174,100 vs $362,800
Waco
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.5% vs 5.7% unemployment
Waco
Summer Heat
9.8°F warmer
July avg high 94.5°F vs 84.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lowell, MA | Waco, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $362,800⚠ High | $174,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,466⚠ High | $1,038 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,008 ✓ Higher | $47,421 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.2 min | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 116⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 ✓ Safer | 101⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.3% ✓ Higher | 27.9% |
| High School or Higher | 82.8% | 85.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lowell | WACO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.0°F | 58.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F | 94.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.5" | 38.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,737 | 140,545 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.6 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.3% | 47.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 12.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lowell's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Waco's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Waco is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Waco leads 16 of 23 categories. Lowell wins 7 and Waco wins 16. 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 Waco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($362,800 vs $174,100 median home), income ($73,008 vs $47,421), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lowell, MA and Waco, TX are about 1,609 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.