Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Newark, NJ
VS
Worcester, MA
🏆 Worcester leads 14 of 21 categories
Newark
New Jersey
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$46,460
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
307,355 ✓ Larger
Worcester
Massachusetts
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,011 ✓ Higher
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.
Newark, NJ
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 39°F vs 32°F
Cons
Median income trails Worcester by $16,551/yr
Violent crime (581.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Higher unemployment (10.7% vs 6.6%)
Worcester, MA
Pros
97% less violent crime than Newark
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.1 pts lower (6.6%)
Households earn $16,551 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (16.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 33.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Snowy winters — about 73" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Newark
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
Median Income
$16,551
$63,011 vs $46,460/yr
Worcester
Violent Crime
97% lower
16.5 vs 581.2 per 100k
Worcester
Unemployment
4.1 pp lower
6.6% vs 10.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Newark, 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 | $312,300⚠ High | $305,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,273 ✓ Lower | $1,312 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,460 | $63,011 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.7%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.0 min⚠ High | 24.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.6% | 9.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 129⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High | 4 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.0% | 33.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.7% | 85.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newark Public School District | 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 | 307,355 ✓ Larger | 204,191 |
| Median Age | 34.7 ✓ Older | 34.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 23.9% | 42.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 19.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.9% | 13.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Newark'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, Worcester leads 14 of 21 categories. Newark wins 7 and Worcester wins 14. 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 Newark to Worcester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($312,300 vs $305,600 median home), income ($46,460 vs $63,011), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Newark, NJ and Worcester, MA are about 162 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.