Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chicago, IL
VS
Worcester, MA
🏆 Chicago leads 14 of 20 categories
Chicago
Illinois
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,673 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High
Population
2,721,914 ✓ Larger
Worcester
Massachusetts
6
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.
Chicago, IL
Pros
Households earn $8,662 more per year on average
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (539.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3472.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 6.6%)
Longer commutes — 34.1 min average each way
Worcester, MA
Pros
97% less violent crime than Chicago
Violent crime is well below the national average (16.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (6.6%)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Chicago by $8,662/yr
Snowy winters — about 73" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Chicago
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 103.8 (100 = US avg)
Chicago
Median Income
$8,662
$71,673 vs $63,011/yr
Worcester
Violent Crime
97% lower
16.5 vs 539.8 per 100k
Worcester
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
6.6% vs 8.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chicago, IL | Worcester, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 103.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $304,500 ✓ Lower | $305,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,314 | $1,312 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,673 ✓ Higher | $63,011 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.1 min⚠ High | 24.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.6% ✓ Higher | 9.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 142⚠ High | 4 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | B+ (106) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 33.1% |
| High School or Higher | 86.6% ✓ Higher | 85.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 | Worcester |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.9°F | 32.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.0°F ✓ Warmer | 79.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.4" ✓ Drier | 48.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.8" ✓ Less | 72.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,721,914 ✓ Larger | 204,191 |
| Median Age | 35.3 ✓ Older | 34.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% ✓ More | 19.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.3% | 13.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chicago's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Worcester's 103.8 (US average = 100).
Chicago is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Chicago leads 14 of 20 categories. Chicago wins 14 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 Chicago to Worcester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,500 vs $305,600 median home), income ($71,673 vs $63,011), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chicago, IL and Worcester, MA are about 814 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.