Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Edinburg, TX
VS
Worcester, MA
🏆 Worcester leads 11 of 21 categories
Edinburg
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,139
Violent Crime Index
71
Population
100,964
Worcester
Massachusetts
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,011 ✓ Higher
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.
Edinburg, TX
Pros
Homes cost $146k less ($159,600 vs $305,600)
Rent averages $392/mo less ($920 vs $1,312)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Worcester
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 32°F
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.6)
Cons
Median income trails Worcester by $8,872/yr
Worcester, MA
Pros
94% less violent crime than Edinburg
Violent crime is well below the national average (16.5 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $8,872 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (6.6%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 97°F
More college-educated — 33.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $305,600
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Edinburg
Snowy winters — about 73" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Edinburg
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 103.8 (100 = US avg)
Edinburg
Median Home Value
$146k less
$159,600 vs $305,600
Edinburg
Summer Heat
16.9°F warmer
July avg high 96.7°F vs 79.8°F
Worcester
Median Income
$8,872
$63,011 vs $54,139/yr
Worcester
Violent Crime
94% lower
16.5 vs 269.6 per 100k
Worcester
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
6.6% vs 7.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Edinburg, TX | Worcester, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper | 103.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $159,600 ✓ Lower | $305,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $920 ✓ Lower | $1,312 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,139 | $63,011 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.8 min ✓ Shorter | 24.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.3% | 9.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 | 4 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.7:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.4% | 33.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.8% | 85.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | EDINBURG CISD | Worcester |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.2°F ✓ Warmer | 32.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.7°F ✓ Warmer | 79.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 26.0" ✓ Drier | 48.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 72.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 100,964 | 204,191 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 29.9 | 34.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.6% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 27.7% ✓ More | 19.5% |
| Over 65 | 9.5% | 13.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Edinburg's cost of living index is 85.6 vs Worcester's 103.8 (US average = 100).
Edinburg is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Worcester leads 11 of 21 categories. Edinburg wins 10 and Worcester wins 11. 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 Edinburg to Worcester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($159,600 vs $305,600 median home), income ($54,139 vs $63,011), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Edinburg, TX and Worcester, MA are about 1,852 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.