Arlington, VA vs Lowell, MA
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Arlington
72.2
#917 nationally
Lowell
67.3
#1437 nationally
Arlington leads in median household income ($137,387 vs $73,008). Lowell leads in cost of living index (126 vs 151). Lowell leads in average commute (27.2 min vs 28.2 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Arlington, VA | Lowell, MA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 72.2 (#917) | 67.3 (#1437) |
| Population | 238,643 | 114,296 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $815,538 | $492,877 |
| Median Household Income | $137,387 | $73,008 |
| Average Commute | 28.2 min | 27.2 min |
| Walk Score | 69 | 67 |
| Crime Level | Low | 14.6 |
| School Rating | 8.8 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 151 | 126 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+58.6 | D+39.5 |
C-
72.2 Score
Arlington, VA
Urban walkability meets federal opportunity
Median Home
$815,538
Population
238,643
Crime
Low
Schools
A
Southeast
View Arlington, VA →
D+
67.3 Score
Lowell, MA
Mid-size Massachusetts city with community character
Median Home
$492,877
Population
114,296
Crime
Moderate-High
Walk Score
67
Northeast
View Lowell, MA →