Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arden-Arcade, CA
VS
Worcester, MA
🏆 Arden-Arcade leads 12 of 21 categories
Arden-Arcade
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,479 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
136⚠ High
Population
96,076
Worcester
Massachusetts
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,011
Violent Crime Index
4 ✓ Safer
Population
204,191 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arden-Arcade, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 32°F
More college-educated — 36.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $466,300
Violent crime (518.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 6.6%)
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Worcester
Worcester, MA
Pros
97% less violent crime than Arden-Arcade
Homes cost $161k less ($305,600 vs $466,300)
Violent crime is well below the national average (16.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (6.6%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 94°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Arden-Arcade
Cons
Snowy winters — about 73" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Arden-Arcade
Median Income
$1,468
$64,479 vs $63,011/yr
Arden-Arcade
Summer Heat
14.6°F warmer
July avg high 94.4°F vs 79.8°F
Worcester
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 103.8 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Worcester
Violent Crime
97% lower
16.5 vs 518.1 per 100k
Worcester
Median Home Value
$161k less
$305,600 vs $466,300
Worcester
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
6.6% vs 8.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arden-Arcade, CA | Worcester, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 103.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $466,300⚠ High | $305,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High | $1,312 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,479 ✓ Higher | $63,011 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min | 24.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.9% ✓ Higher | 9.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 4 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.6:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.3% ✓ Higher | 33.1% |
| High School or Higher | 88.9% ✓ Higher | 85.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Juan Unified | Worcester |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer | 32.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.4°F ✓ Warmer | 79.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 21.5" ✓ Drier | 48.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 72.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 96,076 | 204,191 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 34.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.9% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% ✓ More | 19.5% |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 13.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arden-Arcade's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Worcester's 103.8 (US average = 100).
Worcester is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Arden-Arcade leads 12 of 21 categories. Arden-Arcade wins 12 and Worcester wins 9. 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 Arden-Arcade to Worcester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($466,300 vs $305,600 median home), income ($64,479 vs $63,011), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arden-Arcade, CA and Worcester, MA are about 2,583 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.