Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jersey City, NJ
VS
Worcester, MA
🏆 Jersey City leads 13 of 21 categories
Jersey City
New Jersey
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$91,151 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
148⚠ High
Population
287,899 ✓ 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.
Jersey City, NJ
Pros
Households earn $28,140 more per year on average
More college-educated — 51.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.8%)
Milder winters — January highs near 39°F vs 32°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $500,100
Higher rents — median is $1,799/mo
Violent crime (561.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Worcester, MA
Pros
97% less violent crime than Jersey City
Homes cost $195k less ($305,600 vs $500,100)
Rent averages $487/mo less ($1,312 vs $1,799)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Violent crime is well below the national average (16.5 vs 380/100k)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Jersey City
Cons
Median income trails Jersey City by $28,140/yr
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.8%)
Snowy winters — about 73" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Jersey City
Median Income
$28,140
$91,151 vs $63,011/yr
Jersey City
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.8% vs 6.6% unemployment
Jersey City
Summer Heat
7.0°F warmer
July avg high 86.8°F vs 79.8°F
Worcester
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 103.8 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Worcester
Violent Crime
97% lower
16.5 vs 561.6 per 100k
Worcester
Median Home Value
$195k less
$305,600 vs $500,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jersey City, NJ | Worcester, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 103.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $500,100⚠ High | $305,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,799⚠ High | $1,312 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $91,151 ✓ Higher | $63,011 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 37.0 min⚠ High | 24.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.7% ✓ Higher | 9.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 148⚠ High | 4 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 97 | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B+ (106) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 51.9% ✓ Higher | 33.1% |
| High School or Higher | 90.0% ✓ Higher | 85.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jersey City Public Schools | Worcester |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.4°F ✓ Warmer | 32.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer | 79.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.4" | 48.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" ✓ Less | 72.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 287,899 ✓ Larger | 204,191 |
| Median Age | 34.6 ✓ Older | 34.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 29.2% | 42.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.3% ✓ More | 19.5% |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 13.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jersey City's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Worcester's 103.8 (US average = 100).
Worcester is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Jersey City leads 13 of 21 categories. Jersey City 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 Jersey City to Worcester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($500,100 vs $305,600 median home), income ($91,151 vs $63,011), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jersey City, NJ and Worcester, MA are about 159 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.