Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kent, WA
VS
Worcester, MA
🏆 Worcester leads 12 of 21 categories
Kent
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,966 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
135,169
Worcester
Massachusetts
12
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.
Kent, WA
Pros
Households earn $23,955 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 32°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $478,400
Violent crime (489.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,742/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Worcester, MA
Pros
97% less violent crime than Kent
Homes cost $173k less ($305,600 vs $478,400)
Rent averages $430/mo less ($1,312 vs $1,742)
Violent crime is well below the national average (16.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (6.6%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Kent by $23,955/yr
Snowy winters — about 73" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Kent
Median Income
$23,955
$86,966 vs $63,011/yr
Worcester
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 103.8 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Worcester
Violent Crime
97% lower
16.5 vs 489.7 per 100k
Worcester
Median Home Value
$173k less
$305,600 vs $478,400
Worcester
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
6.6% vs 7.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kent, WA | Worcester, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 103.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $478,400⚠ High | $305,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,742⚠ High | $1,312 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,966 ✓ Higher | $63,011 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.6%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.5 min⚠ High | 24.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.1% ✓ Higher | 9.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 4 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 180⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.0:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% | 33.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% ✓ Higher | 85.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kent School District | Worcester |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.4°F ✓ Warmer | 32.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.3°F | 79.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.7" ✓ Drier | 48.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" ✓ Less | 72.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,169 | 204,191 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.7 ✓ Older | 34.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.8% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 19.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 13.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kent's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Worcester's 103.8 (US average = 100).
Worcester is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Worcester leads 12 of 21 categories. Kent wins 9 and Worcester wins 12. 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 Kent to Worcester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($478,400 vs $305,600 median home), income ($86,966 vs $63,011), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kent, WA and Worcester, MA are about 2,451 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.