Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Norwalk, CA
VS
Worcester, MA
🏆 Worcester leads 11 of 21 categories
Norwalk
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$91,259 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
99
Population
101,893
Worcester
Massachusetts
11
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.
Norwalk, CA
Pros
Households earn $28,248 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 32°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.6%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $593,100
Higher rents — median is $1,860/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Worcester
Worcester, MA
Pros
Homes cost $288k less ($305,600 vs $593,100)
96% less violent crime than Norwalk
Rent averages $548/mo less ($1,312 vs $1,860)
Violent crime is well below the national average (16.5 vs 380/100k)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Norwalk
More college-educated — 33.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Norwalk by $28,248/yr
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.6%)
Snowy winters — about 73" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Norwalk
Median Income
$28,248
$91,259 vs $63,011/yr
Norwalk
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.6% unemployment
Norwalk
Summer Heat
4.6°F warmer
July avg high 84.4°F vs 79.8°F
Worcester
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Worcester
Violent Crime
96% lower
16.5 vs 374.4 per 100k
Worcester
Median Home Value
$288k less
$305,600 vs $593,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Norwalk, CA | Worcester, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 103.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $593,100⚠ High | $305,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,860⚠ High | $1,312 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $91,259 ✓ Higher | $63,011 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.5 min⚠ High | 24.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 9.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 99 | 4 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.8:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.0% | 33.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.8% | 85.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Norwalk-La Mirada Unified | Worcester |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer | 32.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F ✓ Warmer | 79.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.2" ✓ Drier | 48.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 72.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,893 | 204,191 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.6 ✓ Older | 34.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 67.6% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.9% ✓ More | 19.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 13.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Norwalk's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Worcester's 103.8 (US average = 100).
Worcester is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Worcester leads 11 of 21 categories. Norwalk wins 10 and Worcester wins 11. 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 Norwalk to Worcester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($593,100 vs $305,600 median home), income ($91,259 vs $63,011), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Norwalk, CA and Worcester, MA are about 2,549 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.