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Ranlo vs Lowell

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

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Ranlo, NCHomes around $263KNorth Carolina · 4,617 people
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Lowell, NCAn outdoors townNorth Carolina · 3,768 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.

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

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

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

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

Where they are

Ranlo and Lowell share a border

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

RanloLowellRanloLowell
Ranlo ↔ Lowell1.7 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.

Ranlo$1,580/mo
Typical home $263K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.93% · or rent about $1,811/mo · Housing →
Lowell$1,590/mo
Typical home $272K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.73% · or rent about $1,188/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
RanloLowell
Snow a year1″1″
January low31°F31°F
July high91°F91°F
Growing season (days)228d228d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)13th30th
Outdoors & history
RanloLowell
Trails0 mi4 mi
Conserved land0.7%4.4%
Settled19631879
Famous people born here12
Community
RanloLowell
Library hours a week—40 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.

RanloLowell
People
Population 4,617Highest 3,768Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +31.4%Highest NC: +9.5% +3.6%Lowest NC: +9.5%
Median age 35±2.3Lowest 10% below NC 41.3±6.6Highest 6% above NC
Lowell and Ranlo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 26.3%±5.7Highest NC: 21.8% 20.8%±5.7Lowest 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+ 16.5%±4.4Highest NC: 17.2% 16.1%±4.2Lowest 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+ 20.1%Lowest NC: 35.7% 23%Highest NC: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 2.8%±2.1Lowest NC: 6.4% 3.1%±2.5Highest 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 $78,033±$16kHighest 8% above NC $52,500±$14kLowest 27% below 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 $200,200±$39kLowest 31% below NC $200,600±$76kHighest 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 $1,811±$422Highest 47% above NC $1,188±$866Lowest 3% below NC
Ranlo and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $1,865Highest about the NC average $1,474Lowest 22% below NC
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 54.4%±22.8Highest NC: 48.9% 45.6%±23.2Lowest 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 5.5%Lowest NC: 13% 17.4%Highest NC: 13%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 61.6%Lowest NC: 66.6% 73.1%Highest NC: 66.6%
Typical home builtmedian year 1999Highest 8 yrs newer than NC 1974Lowest 17 yrs older than NC
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 21 minLowest 16% below NC 22 minHighest 12% below NC
Work from home 11.3%±4.9Lowest NC: 16.3% 24.4%±9.3Highest 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 1.8%Lowest 3.2%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 15.8 miHighest 14.3 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.36Lowest 0.97Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Charlotte (33%)Charlotte (33%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others 1% work in LowellFew work in Ranlo
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 0.7%Lowest 4.4%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 0.3 miLowest 3.8 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.1 miLowest 1.0 miHighest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 3Highest 1Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 51.6Highest 47.4Lowest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #252 of 252 in NC#193 of 252 in NC
School district Gaston County SchoolsGaston County Schools
High school in town Warlick AcademyNone in town
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.

Ranlo neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Ranlo’s Town Square.

Lowell neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Lowell’s Town Square.

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Bordering Ranlo

S
+ Compare
Springdale1,075 people · $202K homes
+ Compare
Gastonia82,884 people · $278K homes

Towns like Ranlo

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Lillington4,709 people · $247K homes
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Bessemer City5,580 people · $206K homes
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Randleman4,644 people · $185K homes
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Raeford4,552 people · $202K homes

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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