Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Corona, CA
VS
Worcester, MA
🏆 Worcester leads 12 of 21 categories
Corona
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$103,727 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
66
Population
158,346
Worcester
Massachusetts
12
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.
Corona, CA
Pros
Households earn $40,716 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (249.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (4.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 32°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $624,200
Higher rents — median is $2,020/mo
Longer commutes — 35.3 min average each way
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Worcester
Worcester, MA
Pros
Homes cost $319k less ($305,600 vs $624,200)
93% less violent crime than Corona
Rent averages $708/mo less ($1,312 vs $2,020)
Violent crime is well below the national average (16.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails Corona by $40,716/yr
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 4.6%)
Snowy winters — about 73" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Corona
Median Income
$40,716
$103,727 vs $63,011/yr
Corona
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
4.6% vs 6.6% unemployment
Corona
Summer Heat
13.9°F warmer
July avg high 93.7°F vs 79.8°F
Worcester
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 103.8 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Worcester
Violent Crime
93% lower
16.5 vs 249.4 per 100k
Worcester
Median Home Value
$319k less
$305,600 vs $624,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Corona, CA | Worcester, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 103.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $624,200⚠ High | $305,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,020⚠ High | $1,312 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $103,727 ✓ Higher | $63,011 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 35.3 min⚠ High | 24.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.0% | 9.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 72 | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 | 4 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 82 | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.5% | 33.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.8% | 85.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Corona-Norco Unified | Worcester |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.5°F ✓ Warmer | 32.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.7°F ✓ Warmer | 79.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.3" ✓ Drier | 48.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 72.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 158,346 | 204,191 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.9 ✓ Older | 34.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.1% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% ✓ More | 19.5% |
| Over 65 | 11.0% | 13.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Corona's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Worcester's 103.8 (US average = 100).
Worcester is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Worcester leads 12 of 21 categories. Corona wins 9 and Worcester wins 12. 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 Corona to Worcester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($624,200 vs $305,600 median home), income ($103,727 vs $63,011), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Corona, CA and Worcester, MA are about 2,524 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.