Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lowell, MA
VS
Wilmington, NC
🏆 Wilmington 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
Wilmington
North Carolina
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,908
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
116,933 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lowell, MA
Pros
Households earn $14,100 more per year on average
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
Higher rents — median is $1,466/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Wilmington
Pricier housing — median home is $362,800
Wilmington, NC
Pros
9% less violent crime than Lowell
Rent averages $253/mo less ($1,213 vs $1,466)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Lowell
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (4.9%)
More college-educated — 43.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (482.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Lowell by $14,100/yr
Property crime (3514.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Lowell
Median Income
$14,100
$73,008 vs $58,908/yr
Wilmington
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Wilmington
Violent Crime
9% lower
482.8 vs 532.5 per 100k
Wilmington
Median Home Value
$44k less
$318,600 vs $362,800
Wilmington
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.9% vs 5.7% unemployment
Wilmington
Summer Heat
5.3°F warmer
July avg high 90.0°F vs 84.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lowell, MA | Wilmington, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $362,800⚠ High | $318,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,466⚠ High | $1,213 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,008 ✓ Higher | $58,908 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.2 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 14.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 ✓ Safer | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.3% | 43.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.8% | 93.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lowell | New Hanover County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.0°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.5" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.0" | 0.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,737 | 116,933 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.6 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.3% | 45.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 17.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lowell's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Wilmington's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Wilmington is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wilmington leads 17 of 23 categories. Lowell wins 6 and Wilmington 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 Wilmington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($362,800 vs $318,600 median home), income ($73,008 vs $58,908), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lowell, MA and Wilmington, NC are about 682 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.