Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lowell, MA
VS
West Covina, CA
🏆 West Covina leads 13 of 23 categories
Lowell
Massachusetts
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,008
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High
Population
114,737 ✓ Larger
West Covina
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$96,219 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
63 ✓ Safer
Population
108,173
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lowell, MA
Pros
Homes cost $302k less ($362,800 vs $664,500)
Rent averages $588/mo less ($1,466 vs $2,054)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.7%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 90°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (532.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails West Covina by $23,211/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Snowy winters — about 59" of snow per year
West Covina, CA
Pros
55% less violent crime than Lowell
Households earn $23,211 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (239.3 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 34°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $664,500
Higher rents — median is $2,054/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher unemployment (6.7% vs 5.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lowell
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 111.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Lowell
Median Home Value
$302k less
$362,800 vs $664,500
Lowell
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.7% vs 6.7% unemployment
West Covina
Median Income
$23,211
$96,219 vs $73,008/yr
West Covina
Violent Crime
55% lower
239.3 vs 532.5 per 100k
West Covina
Summer Heat
5.6°F warmer
July avg high 90.3°F vs 84.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lowell, MA | West Covina, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $362,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $664,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,466⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,054⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,008 | $96,219 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.2 min ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 9.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 116⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 ✓ Safer | 100 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.3% | 29.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.8% | 86.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lowell | West Covina Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.0°F | 67.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.5" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,737 ✓ Larger | 108,173 |
| Median Age | 34.6 | 39.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.3% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lowell's cost of living index is 111.6 vs West Covina's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Lowell is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, West Covina leads 13 of 23 categories. Lowell wins 10 and West Covina wins 13. 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 West Covina or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($362,800 vs $664,500 median home), income ($73,008 vs $96,219), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lowell, MA and West Covina, CA are about 2,560 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.