Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Richardson, TX
VS
Worcester, MA
🏆 Richardson leads 15 of 21 categories
Richardson
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$94,362 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39
Population
118,063
Worcester
Massachusetts
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High
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.
Richardson, TX
Pros
Households earn $31,351 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 32°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,725/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $379,800
Worcester, MA
Pros
89% less violent crime than Richardson
Rent averages $413/mo less ($1,312 vs $1,725)
Homes cost $74k less ($305,600 vs $379,800)
Violent crime is well below the national average (16.5 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails Richardson by $31,351/yr
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.0%)
Snowy winters — about 73" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Richardson
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 103.8 (100 = US avg)
Richardson
Median Income
$31,351
$94,362 vs $63,011/yr
Richardson
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.6% unemployment
Richardson
Summer Heat
14.5°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 79.8°F
Worcester
Violent Crime
89% lower
16.5 vs 146.7 per 100k
Worcester
Median Home Value
$74k less
$305,600 vs $379,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Richardson, TX | Worcester, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 103.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $379,800⚠ High | $305,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,725⚠ High | $1,312 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,362 ✓ Higher | $63,011 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter | 24.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 19.7% ✓ Higher | 9.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 58 | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 | 4 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 87 | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (133) ✓ Better | B+ (106) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.5% ✓ Higher | 33.1% |
| High School or Higher | 92.5% ✓ Higher | 85.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | RICHARDSON ISD | Worcester |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer | 32.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 79.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.1" ✓ Drier | 48.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.7" ✓ Less | 72.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 118,063 | 204,191 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.5 ✓ Older | 34.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.6% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.0% ✓ More | 19.5% |
| Over 65 | 12.6% | 13.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Richardson's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Worcester's 103.8 (US average = 100).
Richardson is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Richardson leads 15 of 21 categories. Richardson wins 15 and Worcester wins 6. 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 Richardson to Worcester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($379,800 vs $305,600 median home), income ($94,362 vs $63,011), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Richardson, TX and Worcester, MA are about 1,499 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.