Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Beaverton, OR
VS
Worcester, MA
🏆 Beaverton leads 15 of 21 categories
Beaverton
Oregon
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$88,899 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
96
Population
97,554
Worcester
Massachusetts
6
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.
Beaverton, OR
Pros
Households earn $25,888 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (3.9%)
More college-educated — 48.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 32°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $494,700
Higher rents — median is $1,663/mo
Property crime (2661.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Worcester
Worcester, MA
Pros
95% less violent crime than Beaverton
Homes cost $189k less ($305,600 vs $494,700)
Rent averages $351/mo less ($1,312 vs $1,663)
Violent crime is well below the national average (16.5 vs 380/100k)
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Beaverton
Cons
Median income trails Beaverton by $25,888/yr
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 3.9%)
Snowy winters — about 73" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Beaverton
Median Income
$25,888
$88,899 vs $63,011/yr
Beaverton
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
3.9% vs 6.6% unemployment
Worcester
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 103.8 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Worcester
Violent Crime
95% lower
16.5 vs 364.8 per 100k
Worcester
Median Home Value
$189k less
$305,600 vs $494,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Beaverton, OR | Worcester, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High | 103.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $494,700⚠ High | $305,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,663⚠ High | $1,312 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $88,899 ✓ Higher | $63,011 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.3 min ✓ Shorter | 24.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 17.7% ✓ Higher | 9.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 108⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 4 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) ✓ Better | B+ (106) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.3:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.3% ✓ Higher | 33.1% |
| High School or Higher | 94.5% ✓ Higher | 85.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Beaverton SD 48J | Worcester |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.7°F ✓ Warmer | 32.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.3°F ✓ Warmer | 79.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.0" ✓ Drier | 48.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" ✓ Less | 72.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,554 | 204,191 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.7 ✓ Older | 34.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.3% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% ✓ More | 19.5% |
| Over 65 | 14.4% ✓ More | 13.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Beaverton's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Worcester's 103.8 (US average = 100).
Worcester is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Beaverton leads 15 of 21 categories. Beaverton 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 Beaverton to Worcester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($494,700 vs $305,600 median home), income ($88,899 vs $63,011), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Beaverton, OR and Worcester, MA are about 2,507 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.