Best Life Index › States › Massachusetts › Cities › Lowell

Massachusetts city profile

What Is It Like to Live in Lowell?

What it costs to live in Lowell, and how it compares with other Massachusetts cities, in plain numbers.

Value score

36

63rd best value in Massachusetts

How much you get for what you pay, versus other Massachusetts cities.

Overall livability

32

66th overall in Massachusetts

Cost, safety, schools, jobs and quality of life combined.

Lowell is home to about 114,804 people. A typical home runs $312,600 and a household earns around $64,500, a price-to-income ratio of 4.8. Among Massachusetts's largest cities, it ranks 63rd for value and 66th overall.

Lowell at a glance

Median home price

$312,600

40th in MA of 80

Median rent

$1,311/mo

Median household income

$64,500

Home price to income

4.8x

Unemployment

5.8%

51st in MA of 80

School rating

5/10

64th in MA of 80

Air quality (AQI)

45

0th in MA of 80

Walk score

13/100

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‹ See all top Massachusetts cities ranked  ยท  Massachusetts state profile ›

Sources: Home prices and rent from Zillow; income, unemployment and commute from the U.S. Census; school ratings from state education data; crime from the FBI; air quality from the EPA. City rankings are within Massachusetts only. Updated 2026.