Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albuquerque, NM
VS
Worcester, MA
🏆 Albuquerque leads 18 of 21 categories
Albuquerque
New Mexico
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,503
Violent Crime Index
311⚠ High
Population
562,551 ✓ Larger
Worcester
Massachusetts
3
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,011 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
4 ✓ Safer
Population
204,191
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albuquerque, NM
Pros
Rent averages $298/mo less ($1,014 vs $1,312)
Homes cost $60k less ($246,000 vs $305,600)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.5%)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Worcester
Milder winters — January highs near 52°F vs 32°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
Cons
Violent crime (1181.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4628.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Worcester, MA
Pros
99% less violent crime than Albuquerque
Violent crime is well below the national average (16.5 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 95°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $305,600
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Albuquerque
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.5%)
Snowy winters — about 73" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Albuquerque
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 93.0 vs 103.8 (100 = US avg)
Albuquerque
Median Home Value
$60k less
$246,000 vs $305,600
Albuquerque
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.6% unemployment
Albuquerque
Summer Heat
15.1°F warmer
July avg high 94.9°F vs 79.8°F
Worcester
Median Income
$1,508
$63,011 vs $61,503/yr
Worcester
Violent Crime
99% lower
16.5 vs 1181.8 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albuquerque, NM | Worcester, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.0 ✓ Cheaper | 103.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $246,000 ✓ Lower | $305,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,014 ✓ Lower | $1,312 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,503 | $63,011 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter | 24.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.0% ✓ Higher | 9.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 275⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 311⚠ High | 4 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.8% ✓ Higher | 33.1% |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% ✓ Higher | 85.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBUQUERQUE | Worcester |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.9°F ✓ Warmer | 32.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.9°F ✓ Warmer | 79.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 48.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.9" ✓ Less | 72.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 562,551 ✓ Larger | 204,191 |
| Median Age | 38.0 ✓ Older | 34.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.0% ✓ More | 19.5% |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 13.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albuquerque's cost of living index is 93.0 vs Worcester's 103.8 (US average = 100).
Albuquerque is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Albuquerque leads 18 of 21 categories. Albuquerque wins 18 and Worcester wins 3. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Albuquerque to Worcester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($246,000 vs $305,600 median home), income ($61,503 vs $63,011), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albuquerque, NM and Worcester, MA are about 1,928 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.