Lowell, MA vs Salem, MA

Lowell is moderately more affordable than Salem, with a 10.7% lower cost of living index. Lowell scores 120 compared to 134 for Salem, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Salem 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 $1,800/month in Salem — a 11% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Lowell is more affordable at $395,100 median vs $497,400.

Median household income in Lowell is $76,205 compared to $85,137 in Salem (-10.5%). The higher salaries in Salem partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Lowell spend roughly 25.2% of their income on rent, less than the 25.4% in Salem.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (50.1°F vs 49.9°F). Salem receives more rainfall at 44.9" per year compared to 40.9" in Lowell.