Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Phoenix, AZ
VS
Worcester, MA
🏆 Phoenix leads 12 of 21 categories
Phoenix
Arizona
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,092 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High
Population
1,609,456 ✓ Larger
Worcester
Massachusetts
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,011
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.
Phoenix, AZ
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (5.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 32°F
Households earn $9,081 more per year on average
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Worcester
Cons
Violent crime (799.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $340,200
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Worcester, MA
Pros
98% less violent crime than Phoenix
Violent crime is well below the national average (16.5 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 104°F
Homes cost $35k less ($305,600 vs $340,200)
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Phoenix by $9,081/yr
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.2%)
Snowy winters — about 73" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Phoenix
Key Differences at a Glance
Phoenix
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 103.8 (100 = US avg)
Phoenix
Median Income
$9,081
$72,092 vs $63,011/yr
Phoenix
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
5.2% vs 6.6% unemployment
Phoenix
Summer Heat
24.2°F warmer
July avg high 104.0°F vs 79.8°F
Worcester
Violent Crime
98% lower
16.5 vs 799.6 per 100k
Worcester
Median Home Value
$35k less
$305,600 vs $340,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Phoenix, AZ | Worcester, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 103.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $340,200⚠ High | $305,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,322 | $1,312 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,092 ✓ Higher | $63,011 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.7 min | 24.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.4% ✓ Higher | 9.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 171⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 210⚠ High | 4 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.2% | 33.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.9% | 85.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) | Worcester |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.4°F ✓ Warmer | 32.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.0°F ✓ Warmer | 79.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.5" ✓ Drier | 48.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 72.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,609,456 ✓ Larger | 204,191 |
| Median Age | 34.4 ✓ Older | 34.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.4% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 19.5% |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 13.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Phoenix's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Worcester's 103.8 (US average = 100).
Phoenix is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Phoenix leads 12 of 21 categories. Phoenix wins 12 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 Phoenix to Worcester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($340,200 vs $305,600 median home), income ($72,092 vs $63,011), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Phoenix, AZ and Worcester, MA are about 2,254 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.