Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kenosha, WI
VS
Worcester, MA
🏆 Kenosha leads 14 of 21 categories
Kenosha
Wisconsin
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,963 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
75
Population
99,493
Worcester
Massachusetts
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High
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.
Kenosha, WI
Pros
Homes cost $111k less ($194,400 vs $305,600)
Rent averages $233/mo less ($1,079 vs $1,312)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (5.4%)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Worcester, MA
Pros
94% less violent crime than Kenosha
Violent crime is well below the national average (16.5 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 33.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $305,600
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.4%)
Snowy winters — about 73" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Kenosha
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 103.8 (100 = US avg)
Kenosha
Median Income
$1,952
$64,963 vs $63,011/yr
Kenosha
Median Home Value
$111k less
$194,400 vs $305,600
Kenosha
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.6% unemployment
Kenosha
Summer Heat
4.0°F warmer
July avg high 83.8°F vs 79.8°F
Worcester
Violent Crime
94% lower
16.5 vs 285.7 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kenosha, WI | Worcester, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 103.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $194,400 ✓ Lower | $305,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,079 ✓ Lower | $1,312 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,963 ✓ Higher | $63,011 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.1 min ✓ Shorter | 24.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.4% | 9.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 62 | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 | 4 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 41 | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.7:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.5% | 33.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.3% ✓ Higher | 85.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kenosha School District | Worcester |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.3°F | 32.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.8°F ✓ Warmer | 79.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" ✓ Drier | 48.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.2" ✓ Less | 72.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,493 | 204,191 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 34.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.7% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 23.7% ✓ More | 19.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 13.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kenosha's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Worcester's 103.8 (US average = 100).
Kenosha is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Kenosha leads 14 of 21 categories. Kenosha 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 Kenosha to Worcester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($194,400 vs $305,600 median home), income ($64,963 vs $63,011), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kenosha, WI and Worcester, MA are about 819 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.