Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Highlands Ranch, CO
VS
Worcester, MA
🏆 Highlands Ranch leads 14 of 21 categories
Highlands Ranch
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$148,227 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36
Population
101,514
Worcester
Massachusetts
7
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.
Highlands Ranch, CO
Pros
Households earn $85,216 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (3.4%)
More college-educated — 65.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (138.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 32°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $637,400
Higher rents — median is $2,353/mo
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Worcester, MA
Pros
Homes cost $332k less ($305,600 vs $637,400)
Rent averages $1041/mo less ($1,312 vs $2,353)
88% less violent crime than Highlands Ranch
Violent crime is well below the national average (16.5 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 87°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Highlands Ranch by $85,216/yr
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 3.4%)
Snowy winters — about 73" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Highlands Ranch
Median Income
$85,216
$148,227 vs $63,011/yr
Highlands Ranch
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
3.4% vs 6.6% unemployment
Highlands Ranch
Summer Heat
7.5°F warmer
July avg high 87.3°F vs 79.8°F
Worcester
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 103.8 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Worcester
Violent Crime
88% lower
16.5 vs 138.1 per 100k
Worcester
Median Home Value
$332k less
$305,600 vs $637,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Highlands Ranch, 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 | $637,400⚠ High | $305,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,353⚠ High | $1,312 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $148,227 ✓ Higher | $63,011 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.1 min | 24.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 26.2% ✓ Higher | 9.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 36 | 4 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | B+ (106) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 65.7% ✓ Higher | 33.1% |
| High School or Higher | 98.8% ✓ Higher | 85.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Douglas County School District No. Re 1 | Worcester |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.6°F ✓ Warmer | 32.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer | 79.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.2" ✓ Drier | 48.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.0" ✓ Less | 72.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,514 | 204,191 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.0 ✓ Older | 34.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 79.4% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.9% ✓ More | 19.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 13.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Highlands Ranch'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, Highlands Ranch leads 14 of 21 categories. Highlands Ranch wins 14 and Worcester wins 7. 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 Highlands Ranch to Worcester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($637,400 vs $305,600 median home), income ($148,227 vs $63,011), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Highlands Ranch, CO and Worcester, MA are about 1,731 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.