Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Augusta-Richmond County, GA
VS
Worcester, MA
🏆 Augusta-Richmond County leads 13 of 20 categories
Augusta-Richmond County
Georgia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,492
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
201,615
Worcester
Massachusetts
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,011 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
4
Population
204,191 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Augusta-Richmond County, GA
Pros
Homes cost $164k less ($141,900 vs $305,600)
Rent averages $289/mo less ($1,023 vs $1,312)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 32°F
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Worcester
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Cons
Median income trails Worcester by $12,519/yr
Higher unemployment (8.3% vs 6.6%)
Worcester, MA
Pros
Households earn $12,519 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (16.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (6.6%)
More college-educated — 33.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $305,600
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Augusta-Richmond County
Snowy winters — about 73" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Augusta-Richmond County
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 103.8 (100 = US avg)
Augusta-Richmond County
Median Home Value
$164k less
$141,900 vs $305,600
Augusta-Richmond County
Summer Heat
14.3°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 79.8°F
Worcester
Median Income
$12,519
$63,011 vs $50,492/yr
Worcester
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
6.6% vs 8.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Augusta-Richmond County, GA | Worcester, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 103.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $141,900 ✓ Lower | $305,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,023 ✓ Lower | $1,312 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,492 | $63,011 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.3%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.2 min ✓ Shorter | 24.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 9.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 4 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (90) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.8% | 33.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% ✓ Higher | 85.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Richmond County | Worcester |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.6°F ✓ Warmer | 32.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 79.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.1" ✓ Drier | 48.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" ✓ Less | 72.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 201,615 | 204,191 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.6 ✓ Older | 34.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.0% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.9% ✓ More | 19.5% |
| Over 65 | 14.5% ✓ More | 13.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Augusta-Richmond County's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Worcester's 103.8 (US average = 100).
Augusta-Richmond County is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Augusta-Richmond County leads 13 of 20 categories. Augusta-Richmond County wins 13 and Worcester wins 7. 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 Augusta-Richmond County to Worcester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($141,900 vs $305,600 median home), income ($50,492 vs $63,011), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Augusta-Richmond County, GA and Worcester, MA are about 831 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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