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Lowell vs Ranlo

Next-door neighbors. The biggest differences: trails (12.7× in Lowell) and growth since 2010 (+27.8 pts in Ranlo).

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Lowell, NCAn outdoors townNorth Carolina · 3,768 people
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Ranlo, NCHomes around $263KNorth Carolina · 4,617 people
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Where each one shines

Two towns, two different strengths

What each town does better than most of its state (not better than each other). Tap one to see the page behind it.

LowellAn outdoors town
Outdoors#27 most trails in NC3.8 miles of trails across 1 parks and preserves Housing$272K typical home19% below the NC typical home Health76% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates All about Lowell →
RanloHomes around $263K
Housing$263K typical home22% below the NC typical home HealthHealthier than 54%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates SchoolsBetter than 49%of NC districts All about Ranlo →
The biggest differences

Where they part ways

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

Trails12.7×
Lowell has more miles of trail
Lowell 3.8 miRanlo 0.3 mi
Growth since 2010+27.8 pts
Ranlo has grown faster since 2010
Ranlo +31.4%Lowell +3.6%
Jobs per worker2.7×
Lowell is more of a job hub
Lowell 0.97Ranlo 0.36
Typical home built25 yrs
Lowell’s homes are older
Ranlo 1999Lowell 1974
Property tax bill+27%
Tax bills are bigger in Ranlo
Ranlo $1,865Lowell $1,474
Homeowners+11.5 pts renters
Ranlo has more renters
Lowell 73.1%Ranlo 61.6%
★ What stands out · Report cards

Ranlo places higher on 13 of 20 NC lists

Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every North Carolina ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Safety
C+LowellSafer than 42% of U.S. towns BRanloSafer than 61% of U.S. towns
Schools
B−LowellBetter than 49% of districts in the state B−RanloBetter than 49% of districts in the state
Health
C−LowellHealthier than 24% of U.S. towns B−RanloHealthier than 54% of U.S. towns
6Lowell
13Ranlo

Lists won, of 20 where both are ranked. Ties go to nobody.

Fastest growingGrowth · 291 towns #185#48 Most conserved landOutdoors · 276 towns #114#242 Lowest depressionHealth · 296 towns #258#139 Most remote workersWork · 285 towns #39#139 Cheapest rentCost of living · 284 towns #166#265 Highest incomeIncome · 297 towns #222#120 Fewest smokersHealth · 296 towns #244#154 HealthiestHealth · 296 towns #226#150

Left end = #1 in North Carolina. Showing the lists where the towns are furthest apart. All of Lowell’s rankings →

Where they are

Lowell and Ranlo share a border

And the people who already live in one and work in the other.

LowellRanloLowellRanlo
Lowell ↔ Ranlo1.7 miles apart · They share a border
Who commutes between them
23 Ranlo residents work in Lowell (1.1% of its workers)
Work & commute in Ranlo →
Monthly cost

A typical home costs about the same each month

A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.

Lowell$1,590/mo
Typical home $272K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.73% · or rent about $1,188/mo · Housing →
Ranlo$1,580/mo
Typical home $263K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.93% · or rent about $1,811/mo · Housing →

Within $50 a month of each other.

Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value.

Life in each

What daily life feels like in each

The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.

Seasons
LowellRanlo
Snow a year1″1″
January low31°F31°F
July high91°F91°F
Growing season (days)228d228d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)30th13th
Outdoors & history
LowellRanlo
Trails4 mi0 mi
Conserved land4.4%0.7%
Settled18791963
Famous people born here21
Community
LowellRanlo
Library hours a week40 hrs—
Posts this month00
Neighbors joined00

A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.

Everything, side by side

What matters to you?

Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

LowellRanlo
People
Population 3,768Lowest 4,617Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +3.6%Lowest NC: +9.5% +31.4%Highest NC: +9.5%
Median age 41.3±6.6Highest 6% above NC 35±2.3Lowest 10% below NC
Lowell and Ranlo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 20.8%±5.7Lowest NC: 21.8% 26.3%±5.7Highest NC: 21.8%
Ranlo and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 16.1%±4.2Lowest NC: 17.2% 16.5%±4.4Highest NC: 17.2%
Ranlo and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 23%Highest NC: 35.7% 20.1%Lowest NC: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 3.1%±2.5Highest NC: 6.4% 2.8%±2.1Lowest NC: 6.4%
Lowell and Ranlo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $52,500±$14kLowest 27% below NC $78,033±$16kHighest 8% above NC
Ranlo and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $200,600±$76kHighest 31% below NC $200,200±$39kLowest 31% below NC
Lowell and Ranlo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,188±$866Lowest 3% below NC $1,811±$422Highest 47% above NC
Ranlo and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $1,474Lowest 22% below NC $1,865Highest about the NC average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 45.6%±23.2Lowest NC: 48.9% 54.4%±22.8Highest NC: 48.9%
Ranlo and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 17.4%Highest NC: 13% 5.5%Lowest NC: 13%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 73.1%Highest NC: 66.6% 61.6%Lowest NC: 66.6%
Typical home builtmedian year 1974Lowest 17 yrs older than NC 1999Highest 8 yrs newer than NC
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 22 minHighest 12% below NC 21 minLowest 16% below NC
Work from home 24.4%±9.3Highest NC: 16.3% 11.3%±4.9Lowest NC: 16.3%
Lowell and Ranlo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 3.2%Highest 1.8%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 14.3 miLowest 15.8 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.97Highest 0.36Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Charlotte (33%)Charlotte (33%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in Ranlo1% work in Lowell
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 4.4%Highest 0.7%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 3.8 miHighest 0.3 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 1.0 miHighest 0.1 miLowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 1Lowest 3Highest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 47.4Lowest 51.6Highest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #193 of 252 in NC#252 of 252 in NC
School district Gaston County SchoolsGaston County Schools
High school in town None in townWarlick Academy
Students per teacherat that high school — 10.9
North Carolina average“±” Census margin of errorACS 2020–2024
Deciding?

Ask the people who live there

The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.

Lowell neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Lowell’s Town Square.

Ranlo neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Ranlo’s Town Square.

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Bordering Lowell

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Gastonia82,884 people · $278K homes
M
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McAdenville1,010 people · $377K homes

Towns like Lowell

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Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.

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