Berkeley, CA 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.
Berkeley
59.6
#1947 nationally
Lowell
67.3
#1437 nationally
Lowell leads in cost of living index (126 vs 222). Berkeley leads in median household income ($104,716 vs $73,008). Berkeley leads in walk score (85 vs 67).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Berkeley, CA | Lowell, MA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 59.6 (#1947) | 67.3 (#1437) |
| Population | 118,962 | 114,296 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $1,460,437 | $492,877 |
| Median Household Income | $104,716 | $73,008 |
| Average Commute | 30.4 min | 27.2 min |
| Walk Score | 85 | 67 |
| Crime Level | 17.5 | 14.6 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 222 | 126 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+53.6 | D+39.5 |
F
59.6 Score
Berkeley, CA
Mid-size California city with community character
Median Home
$1,460,437
Population
118,962
Crime
High
Walk Score
85
Pacific
View Berkeley, CA →
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 →