Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Palm Coast, FL
VS
Worcester, MA
🏆 Palm Coast leads 11 of 20 categories
Palm Coast
Florida
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$68,824 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
91,082
Worcester
Massachusetts
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,011
Violent Crime Index
4
Population
204,191 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Palm Coast, FL
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (4.1%)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 32°F
Households earn $5,813 more per year on average
Homes cost $22k less ($283,300 vs $305,600)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,621/mo
Longer commutes — 28.0 min average each way
Worcester, MA
Pros
Rent averages $309/mo less ($1,312 vs $1,621)
Violent crime is well below the national average (16.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 33.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 88°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 4.1%)
Median income trails Palm Coast by $5,813/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $305,600
Snowy winters — about 73" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Palm Coast
Median Income
$5,813
$68,824 vs $63,011/yr
Palm Coast
Median Home Value
$22k less
$283,300 vs $305,600
Palm Coast
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
4.1% vs 6.6% unemployment
Palm Coast
Summer Heat
8.0°F warmer
July avg high 87.8°F vs 79.8°F
Worcester
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 103.8 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Palm Coast, FL | Worcester, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High | 103.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $283,300 ✓ Lower | $305,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,621⚠ High | $1,312 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $68,824 ✓ Higher | $63,011 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.0 min⚠ High | 24.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.1% ✓ Higher | 9.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 4 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% | 33.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.8% ✓ Higher | 85.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FLAGLER | Worcester |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer | 32.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.8°F ✓ Warmer | 79.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 48.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 72.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,082 | 204,191 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 50.3 ✓ Older | 34.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 77.9% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 17.6% | 19.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 29.5% ✓ More | 13.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Palm Coast's cost of living index is 104.5 vs Worcester's 103.8 (US average = 100).
Worcester is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Palm Coast leads 11 of 20 categories. Palm Coast wins 11 and Worcester wins 9. 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 Palm Coast to Worcester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($283,300 vs $305,600 median home), income ($68,824 vs $63,011), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Palm Coast, FL and Worcester, MA are about 1,025 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.