Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baltimore, MD
VS
Worcester, MA
🏆 Baltimore leads 15 of 21 categories
Baltimore
Maryland
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,349
Violent Crime Index
423⚠ High
Population
584,548 ✓ Larger
Worcester
Massachusetts
6
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.
Baltimore, MD
Pros
Homes cost $103k less ($202,900 vs $305,600)
Milder winters — January highs near 44°F vs 32°F
Rent averages $77/mo less ($1,235 vs $1,312)
Cons
Violent crime (1606.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4157.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Longer commutes — 30.1 min average each way
Median income trails Worcester by $4,662/yr
Worcester, MA
Pros
99% less violent crime than Baltimore
Violent crime is well below the national average (16.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 90°F
Households earn $4,662 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $305,600
Snowy winters — about 73" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Baltimore
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 102.7 vs 103.8 (100 = US avg)
Baltimore
Median Home Value
$103k less
$202,900 vs $305,600
Baltimore
Summer Heat
10.3°F warmer
July avg high 90.1°F vs 79.8°F
Worcester
Median Income
$4,662
$63,011 vs $58,349/yr
Worcester
Violent Crime
99% lower
16.5 vs 1606.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baltimore, MD | Worcester, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 103.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $202,900 ✓ Lower | $305,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 ✓ Lower | $1,312 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,349 | $63,011 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 24.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.4% ✓ Higher | 9.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 333⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 423⚠ High | 4 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.9% ✓ Higher | 33.1% |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% ✓ Higher | 85.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Baltimore City Public Schools | Worcester |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 43.7°F ✓ Warmer | 32.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.1°F ✓ Warmer | 79.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.7" ✓ Drier | 48.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 19.3" ✓ Less | 72.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 584,548 ✓ Larger | 204,191 |
| Median Age | 36.0 ✓ Older | 34.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.4% ✓ More | 19.5% |
| Over 65 | 14.8% ✓ More | 13.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baltimore's cost of living index is 102.7 vs Worcester's 103.8 (US average = 100).
Baltimore is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Baltimore leads 15 of 21 categories. Baltimore wins 15 and Worcester wins 6. 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 Baltimore to Worcester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($202,900 vs $305,600 median home), income ($58,349 vs $63,011), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baltimore, MD and Worcester, MA are about 324 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.