Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lowell, MA
VS
Wichita Falls, TX
🏆 Wichita Falls leads 15 of 23 categories
Lowell
Massachusetts
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,008 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High
Population
114,737 ✓ Larger
Wichita Falls
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,584
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
102,482
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lowell, MA
Pros
Households earn $17,424 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 97°F
More college-educated — 28.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
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 23% higher than Wichita Falls
Wichita Falls, TX
Pros
Homes cost $234k less ($128,800 vs $362,800)
Rent averages $517/mo less ($949 vs $1,466)
34% less violent crime than Lowell
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Lowell
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.4%)
Cons
Median income trails Lowell by $17,424/yr
Property crime (2618.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Lowell
Median Income
$17,424
$73,008 vs $55,584/yr
Wichita Falls
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 88.9 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Wichita Falls
Violent Crime
34% lower
350.3 vs 532.5 per 100k
Wichita Falls
Median Home Value
$234k less
$128,800 vs $362,800
Wichita Falls
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.7% unemployment
Wichita Falls
Summer Heat
12.5°F warmer
July avg high 97.2°F vs 84.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lowell, MA | Wichita Falls, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 88.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $362,800⚠ High | $128,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,466⚠ High | $949 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,008 ✓ Higher | $55,584 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.2 min | 14.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% ✓ Higher | 6.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 116⚠ High | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 ✓ Safer | 125⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.3% ✓ Higher | 24.2% |
| High School or Higher | 82.8% | 86.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lowell | WICHITA FALLS ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.0°F | 54.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F | 97.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.5" | 27.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.0" | 3.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,737 ✓ Larger | 102,482 |
| Median Age | 34.6 ✓ Older | 32.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.3% | 56.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 22.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lowell's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Wichita Falls's 88.9 (US average = 100).
Wichita Falls is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wichita Falls leads 15 of 23 categories. Lowell wins 8 and Wichita Falls wins 15. 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 Wichita Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($362,800 vs $128,800 median home), income ($73,008 vs $55,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lowell, MA and Wichita Falls, TX are about 1,585 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.