Lowell, MA vs Marlborough, MA

Lowell is moderately more affordable than Marlborough, with a 8.4% lower cost of living index. Lowell scores 120 compared to 131 for Marlborough, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Marlborough can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Lowell is $1,603/month compared to $1,721/month in Marlborough — a 7% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Lowell is more affordable at $395,100 median vs $485,400.

Median household income in Lowell is $76,205 compared to $95,047 in Marlborough (-19.8%). While Marlborough is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Lowell spend roughly 25.2% of their income on rent, more than the 21.7% in Marlborough.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (50.1°F vs 50.5°F). Marlborough receives more rainfall at 42.6" per year compared to 40.9" in Lowell.