Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lowell, MA
VS
Waterbury, CT
🏆 Lowell leads 12 of 23 categories
Lowell
Massachusetts
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,008 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High
Population
114,737 ✓ Larger
Waterbury
Connecticut
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,451
Violent Crime Index
85 ✓ Safer
Population
114,480
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lowell, MA
Pros
Households earn $21,557 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.1 pts lower (5.7%)
More college-educated — 28.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
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 17% higher than Waterbury
Waterbury, CT
Pros
Homes cost $200k less ($162,800 vs $362,800)
39% less violent crime than Lowell
Rent averages $326/mo less ($1,140 vs $1,466)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Lowell
Cons
Median income trails Lowell by $21,557/yr
Property crime (2918.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.8% vs 5.7%)
Snowy winters — about 47" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Lowell
Median Income
$21,557
$73,008 vs $51,451/yr
Lowell
Unemployment
4.1 pp lower
5.7% vs 9.8% unemployment
Waterbury
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 95.1 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Waterbury
Violent Crime
39% lower
322.5 vs 532.5 per 100k
Waterbury
Median Home Value
$200k less
$162,800 vs $362,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lowell, MA | Waterbury, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 95.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $362,800⚠ High | $162,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,466⚠ High | $1,140 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,008 ✓ Higher | $51,451 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.2 min ✓ Shorter | 27.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 116⚠ High | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ 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 | 12.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.3% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| High School or Higher | 82.8% ✓ Higher | 81.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lowell | Waterbury School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.0°F | 37.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F ✓ Warmer | 84.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.5" ✓ Drier | 52.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.0" | 46.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,737 ✓ Larger | 114,480 |
| Median Age | 34.6 | 36.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.3% | 43.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 22.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lowell's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Waterbury's 95.1 (US average = 100).
Waterbury is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lowell leads 12 of 23 categories. Lowell wins 12 and Waterbury wins 11. 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 Waterbury or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($362,800 vs $162,800 median home), income ($73,008 vs $51,451), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lowell, MA and Waterbury, CT are about 115 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.