Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Denver, CO
VS
Worcester, MA
🏆 Denver leads 13 of 21 categories
Denver
Colorado
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,853 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
261⚠ High
Population
710,800 ✓ Larger
Worcester
Massachusetts
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Denver, CO
Pros
Households earn $22,842 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (4.7%)
More college-educated — 54.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 32°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $540,400
Violent crime (993.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,665/mo
Property crime (4761.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Worcester, MA
Pros
98% less violent crime than Denver
Homes cost $235k less ($305,600 vs $540,400)
Rent averages $353/mo less ($1,312 vs $1,665)
Violent crime is well below the national average (16.5 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 90°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Denver by $22,842/yr
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 4.7%)
Snowy winters — about 73" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Denver
Median Income
$22,842
$85,853 vs $63,011/yr
Denver
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.6% unemployment
Denver
Summer Heat
10.4°F warmer
July avg high 90.2°F vs 79.8°F
Worcester
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 103.8 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Worcester
Violent Crime
98% lower
16.5 vs 993.0 per 100k
Worcester
Median Home Value
$235k less
$305,600 vs $540,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Denver, CO | Worcester, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 103.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $540,400⚠ High | $305,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High | $1,312 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,853 ✓ Higher | $63,011 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.3 min | 24.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 20.9% ✓ Higher | 9.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 247⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 261⚠ High | 4 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 227⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B+ (106) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 54.2% ✓ Higher | 33.1% |
| High School or Higher | 90.5% ✓ Higher | 85.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C | Worcester |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F ✓ Warmer | 32.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F ✓ Warmer | 79.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.4" ✓ Drier | 48.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" ✓ Less | 72.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 710,800 ✓ Larger | 204,191 |
| Median Age | 34.9 ✓ Older | 34.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 19.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 13.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Denver's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Worcester's 103.8 (US average = 100).
Worcester is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Denver leads 13 of 21 categories. Denver wins 13 and Worcester wins 8. 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 Denver to Worcester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($540,400 vs $305,600 median home), income ($85,853 vs $63,011), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Denver, CO and Worcester, MA are about 1,722 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.