Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Palmdale, CA
VS
Worcester, MA
🏆 Worcester leads 14 of 21 categories
Palmdale
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,414 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
145⚠ High
Population
166,895
Worcester
Massachusetts
14
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.
Palmdale, CA
Pros
Households earn $15,403 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 32°F
Cons
Violent crime (551.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $397,500
Higher rents — median is $1,625/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Worcester, MA
Pros
97% less violent crime than Palmdale
Homes cost $92k less ($305,600 vs $397,500)
Commutes run 17 min shorter each way
Rent averages $313/mo less ($1,312 vs $1,625)
Violent crime is well below the national average (16.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (6.6%)
Cons
Median income trails Palmdale by $15,403/yr
Snowy winters — about 73" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Palmdale
Median Income
$15,403
$78,414 vs $63,011/yr
Palmdale
Summer Heat
17.8°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 79.8°F
Worcester
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Worcester
Violent Crime
97% lower
16.5 vs 551.0 per 100k
Worcester
Median Home Value
$92k less
$305,600 vs $397,500
Worcester
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
6.6% vs 7.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Palmdale, 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 | $397,500⚠ High | $305,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,625⚠ High | $1,312 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,414 ✓ Higher | $63,011 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.4%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 41.3 min⚠ High | 24.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.9% | 9.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 123⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 145⚠ High | 4 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (59) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.2:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 16.7% | 33.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.6% | 85.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Palmdale Elementary | Worcester |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.5°F ✓ Warmer | 32.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer | 79.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 7.3" ✓ Drier | 48.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 72.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 166,895 | 204,191 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.0 | 34.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.5% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 29.0% ✓ More | 19.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 13.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Palmdale'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 14 of 21 categories. Palmdale 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 Palmdale to Worcester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($397,500 vs $305,600 median home), income ($78,414 vs $63,011), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Palmdale, CA and Worcester, MA are about 2,529 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.