Lowell, MA Relocation Guide (2026)
Cost of living, housing, and income data for Lowell, sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Salary needed to live in Lowell →
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Last updated July 2026.
Lowell's population is about 114,737. On income, the typical household clears $73,008 a year, running roughly in line with the median household income across the cities we cover (+1%).
Expect a median home value of $362,800 in Lowell, which runs above what we see across other cities (+11%). Median rent lands at $1,466/month — a useful baseline before comparing mortgage payments to rent.
Buying a typical home in Lowell would run about 5.0 years of median household income — a moderate multiple, not unusually high or low. The local market has seen 3.56% price growth over the past year — solid, sustainable movement rather than a rapid runup. FEMA rates Lowell's overall natural-hazard risk as Relatively High — worth factoring into home insurance costs.
Personal Affordability Check
Renting at $1,466/mo in Lowell would take 24.1% of your income.
$359/mo under the 30% guideline.
Buying the median home ($362,800) would take 31.8% of your income toward principal & interest.
$233/mo over the 28% guideline.
Cost of housing in Lowell
Median home value is $362,800 and median gross rent is $1,466/month. For buyers, monthly costs depend heavily on current mortgage rates — worth checking before you commit.
FHFA's county-level home price index for Middlesex rose 3.56% over the past year (as of 2025).
Climate & home insurance
FEMA rates Lowell's overall natural-hazard risk as Relatively High. Risk level is a major driver of home insurance premiums.
Safety
Lowell reported a violent crime rate of 505.4 per 100,000 residents in 2025, per FBI data.
Moving to Lowell
Planning a move to Lowell? Compare licensed movers and get quotes based on your origin and move date.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in Lowell, MA?
- Cost of living in Lowell centers on housing: median home value runs $362,800, median rent runs $1,466/month, and the typical household earns $73,008 a year. Data via the US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022).
- How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Lowell?
- At Lowell's median rent of $1,466/month, the 30%-of-income guideline suggests an annual income around $58,640 to stay comfortably housed. See the full salary breakdown (renting and buying) for Lowell.
- Is it better to rent or buy in Lowell?
- Buying at Lowell's median home value of $362,800 takes about $83,007 a year in principal-and-interest income (20% down, 30-year fixed, current mortgage rates), compared with roughly $58,640 a year to comfortably rent at the median $1,466/month. Down payment and expected length of stay usually settle the question.
- Is Lowell safe?
- The most recent FBI figures (2025) show a violent crime rate of 505.4 per 100,000 residents in Lowell.
See the full salary breakdown for Lowell →
Cities with a similar cost of living
Matched on median rent and household income within 15% of Lowell's.