Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, TX
VS
Worcester, MA
🏆 Arlington leads 12 of 20 categories
Arlington
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,736 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
393,469 ✓ Larger
Worcester
Massachusetts
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,011
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.
Arlington, TX
Pros
Homes cost $54k less ($251,300 vs $305,600)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 32°F
Households earn $8,725 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (482.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Worcester, MA
Pros
97% less violent crime than Arlington
Violent crime is well below the national average (16.5 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 96°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $305,600
Median income trails Arlington by $8,725/yr
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.6%)
Snowy winters — about 73" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 103.8 (100 = US avg)
Arlington
Median Income
$8,725
$71,736 vs $63,011/yr
Arlington
Median Home Value
$54k less
$251,300 vs $305,600
Arlington
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.6% unemployment
Arlington
Summer Heat
16.1°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 79.8°F
Worcester
Violent Crime
97% lower
16.5 vs 482.9 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, TX | Worcester, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 103.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $251,300 ✓ Lower | $305,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,297 ✓ Lower | $1,312 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,736 ✓ Higher | $63,011 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 24.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 9.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 4 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.4% | 33.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.9% | 85.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ARLINGTON ISD | Worcester |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.9°F ✓ Warmer | 32.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 79.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" ✓ Drier | 48.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" ✓ Less | 72.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 393,469 ✓ Larger | 204,191 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 34.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 19.5% |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 13.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Worcester's 103.8 (US average = 100).
Arlington is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Arlington leads 12 of 20 categories. Arlington wins 12 and Worcester wins 8. 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 Arlington to Worcester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($251,300 vs $305,600 median home), income ($71,736 vs $63,011), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, TX and Worcester, MA are about 1,530 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.