Moving from Lowell, MA to Aurora, CO

A 1984 mi cross-country move between Lowell and Aurora is 36h 8m on paper and typically three to five days in practice, through 10 states. Nearly every household line β€” rent, taxes, climate, commute β€” usually shifts. This page assembles the federal and Zillow data to make those differences visible on a single screen.

1984 mi Β· 36h 8m by car Β· CO β†’ NE β†’ IA β†’ IL β†’ IN β†’ OH β†’ PA β†’ NY β†’ CT β†’ MA

COL -2.3% Home values -3.6% Ξ” +1.8Β°F annual

Distance & route

Driving
1984 mi
Drive time
36h 8m
States
10
Fuel (25 mpg)
79 gal
Route throughCO β†’ NE β†’ IA β†’ IL β†’ IN β†’ OH β†’ PA β†’ NY β†’ CT β†’ MA
Primary highwaysI 80, I 90, I 84
Major cities en routeDenver, Lakewood, Centennial, Thornton, Arvada

Route via OSRM driving profile. Actual time varies with traffic and season.

Cost of living

LowellAuroraU.S. avg
All items (RPP)108.266105.782100.0
Rents148.76887.856100.0
Goods99.651100.957100.0
Services148.424146.919100.0

No material COL gap at the headline level β€” BEA RPP for both cities falls within 5% (2024).

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (MSA-level Β· MSA-level); 2024.

Housing prices

Lowell β€” typical home
$480,319
Aurora β€” typical home
$463,081
Lowell β€” typical rent
$2,242/mo
Aurora β€” typical rent
$1,701/mo

Housing stays roughly flat moving from Lowell to Aurora β€” $480,319 vs $463,081 (2026-03).

YoY change: Lowell +0.4%, Aurora -4.3%. Snapshot: 2026-03. Data provided by Zillow.

Climate

1991–2020 normalsLowellAurora
Annual avg temperature49Β°F51Β°F
January avg low16Β°F17Β°F
July avg high85Β°F90Β°F
Annual snowfallβ€”β€”
Annual precipitation48.5"β€”

No material annual-average temperature gap; seasonal extremes may still differ.

Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (stations: LOWELL, MA US, CHERRY CREEK DAM, CO US).

Demographics

ACS 5-year 2023LowellAurora
Population114,799390,201
Median household income$76,205$84,320
Median age35.535.1
Bachelor's degree or higher18%21.4%
Avg household size2.712.73

Households in Aurora earn about 2.3% more at the median β€” ACS 5-year 2023.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year 2023.

Jobs & wages

Lowell MSA β€” median wage
β€”
Aurora MSA β€” median wage
$58,490
Lowell MSA β€” employment
β€”
Aurora MSA β€” employment
1,590,330

Top occupations in Aurora MSA

OccupationEmploymentMedian wage
Office and Administrative Support Occupations 173,910 $49,000
Sales and Related Occupations 172,890 $48,280
Business and Financial Operations Occupations 164,250 $84,370
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations 140,150 $36,010
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations 129,510 $45,350

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.

Moving between Massachusetts and Colorado

Massachusetts income tax
9% top marginal
Colorado income tax
4.4% top marginal

State income-tax top marginal rates are from the Tax Foundation, updated annually. Check Colorado's DMV for the current deadline to transfer driver license and vehicle registration after establishing residency. Consult a tax professional for your specific filing situation β€” state tax treatment depends on residency, sourcing, and reciprocity agreements.

Best time to move

Moving companies typically charge 20–30% more between Memorial Day and Labor Day (peak season). October through April offers the lowest rates and better mover availability.

To avoid mid-semester school transfers, most U.S. families schedule moves between mid-June and mid-August. Public school calendars typically run late August or early September through late May or early June.

Winter driving along this route

  • Mountain passes on I-70 west of Denver and on I-25 near Raton can close for snow November through April β€” check CDOT alerts before departure.
  • The Pennsylvania Turnpike between Pittsburgh and Harrisburg can see chain requirements in heavy winter storms.
  • Lake-effect off Lake Ontario can shut down I-81 and I-90 for hours in winter β€” check 511NY.

State DOT 511 phone or web services provide real-time road conditions year-round.

Packing & arrival checklist

  • Air conditioning matters: July highs in Aurora average 90Β°F on NOAA normals. If the new place has window-unit or no AC, plan that purchase for the first week.
  • Arrange utility connection (power, internet, gas, water) two weeks ahead of move-in.
  • Update mailing address with USPS change-of-address within the first week post-move.
  • Register to vote in Colorado after establishing residency.

Frequently asked

When is the best time to move from Lowell to Aurora?

Moving companies usually charge 20–30% less between October and April (off-peak). Memorial Day through Labor Day is peak pricing. For a 1984 mi drive, weather on the route matters too β€” see the timing section above for state-specific winter warnings.

How much do homes cost in Aurora compared to Lowell?

Zillow ZHVI (2026-03) puts the typical home value at $463,081 in Aurora vs $480,319 in Lowell β€” a 3.6% lower figure. Data provided by Zillow Research.

How does household income compare in Lowell vs Aurora?

Median household income on the Census ACS 5-year (2023) is $84,320 in Aurora vs $76,205 in Lowell β€” a 10.6% higher figure. Compare this against the cost-of-living gap above when budgeting.

How far is Aurora, CO from Lowell, MA?

The driving distance is 1984 mi and the route typically takes 36h 8m via I 80 and I 90. The trip crosses 10 state(s). Actual time varies with traffic and season.

Is Aurora more expensive than Lowell?

Based on BEA Regional Price Parities (2024), overall price level in Aurora is 2.3% lower than Lowell (105.782 vs 108.266, U.S. average = 100). Rent and services typically carry most of this gap.

Plan the move

Estimate costs with our moving cost calculator, or see where else to move from Lowell.

City profiles: Lowell, MA Β· Aurora, CO.

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