Lowell is a small city in Gaston County, North Carolina, United States, located east of Gastonia. As of the 2020 census, Lowell had a population of 3,654.

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

How Lowell ranks

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#19Closest to a top hospital in NC #39Most remote workers in NC #27Most trails in NC All NC rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code28098

Area code704

Living in Lowell

Housing in Lowell

$272K≈ same as a year ago Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Lowell home is worth about $272,000, about the same as a year ago, 19% below the North Carolina typical home.

A seller's market

Buyer’sBalancedSeller’s

Days on market39

Sale-to-list100.4%

Sold in May5

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Lowell

C⁺

Safety Grade C+

Lowell reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 58% report less. Within North Carolina, it does better than 73% of towns.

Violent crime per 1,000

Lowell 3.6

North Carolina 3.3

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Lowell 13

North Carolina 18.1

U.S. 15.5

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in Lowell

Full picture →

Most working residents leave Lowell for work: only 3% work in town. The top destinations are Charlotte (33%), Gastonia (18%) and Mount Holly (2%). Half commute less than 14 miles.

Charlotte

33%

Gastonia

18%

Mount Holly

Raleigh

3%Work in townlive and work in Lowell 14 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 1,789Jobs based herebalanced

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Lowell →

Health in Lowell

C⁻

Health Grade C−

Healthier than 25% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates, and 52% of towns with similar incomes.

Compared with North Carolina

12worse than NC

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 20 are too close to call.

Conditions 3▼ 9 close Habits 1▼ 3 close Care 1▼ 6 close Mind 3▼ 2 close Everyday needs 4▼ 0 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

21%More older adults who have lost all their teethNC 13.9% · worse 18.2%More smokersNC 13.5% · worse 9.5%More adults with COPDNC 7.1% · worse

Care nearby

Caromont Regional Medical CenterGastonia · 1.9 mi · ER

Kintegra Family Medicine - X-Ray DriveGastonia · 1.9 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalShortage · county-wide

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Lowell · CMS · HRSAHealth in Lowell →

Natural hazards in Lowell

Low

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 30% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🌪️ Tornadoes🏚️ Earthquakes

0Does Lowell flood?no paid flood claims on record 2Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Lowell MapLowell vs. its neighborsnearby towns shaded by rating

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Lowell →

Climate in Lowell

Full climate →

Lowell has mild winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 90°, a January night drops to 31°, and about 1 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

54° / 32°Winter

72° / 48°Spring

88° / 67°Summer

73° / 50°Fall

How much snow does Lowell get?About 1 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Nov 9, with the last in spring around Mar 27.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+1.3° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Lowell →

Schools in Lowell

All Lowell schools →

B⁻

School Grade B-

The public schools Lowell’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, trail 51% of North Carolina’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they sit near the middle.

See how Lowell’s schools compare in NC →

DistrictGaston County SchoolsSchools2

Holbrook Middle C+Middle · Grades 6–8 · 712 students Gaston Christian SchoolOther · Grades PK–12 · 1,159 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within NC. Ratings are from neighbors.