Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Francisco, CA
VS
Worcester, MA
🏆 San Francisco leads 12 of 21 categories
San Francisco
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
117.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,689 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High
Population
851,036 ✓ Larger
Worcester
Massachusetts
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
San Francisco, CA
Pros
Households earn $73,678 more per year on average
More college-educated — 59.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (5.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 32°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 62°F vs 80°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,348,700
Higher rents — median is $2,316/mo
Violent crime (596.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 117.1)
Worcester, MA
Pros
Homes cost $1043k less ($305,600 vs $1,348,700)
97% less violent crime than San Francisco
Rent averages $1004/mo less ($1,312 vs $2,316)
Violent crime is well below the national average (16.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
13% cheaper overall cost of living than San Francisco
Cons
Median income trails San Francisco by $73,678/yr
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.4%)
Snowy winters — about 73" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
San Francisco
Median Income
$73,678
$136,689 vs $63,011/yr
San Francisco
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.6% unemployment
Worcester
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 103.8 vs 117.1 (100 = US avg)
Worcester
Violent Crime
97% lower
16.5 vs 596.5 per 100k
Worcester
Median Home Value
$1043k less
$305,600 vs $1,348,700
Worcester
Summer Heat
18.0°F warmer
July avg high 79.8°F vs 61.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Francisco, CA | Worcester, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 117.1⚠ High | 103.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,348,700⚠ High | $305,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,316⚠ High | $1,312 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $136,689 ✓ Higher | $63,011 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.8 min⚠ High | 24.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 23.4% ✓ Higher | 9.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High | 4 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 187⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) ✓ Better | B+ (106) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.0:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.8% ✓ Higher | 33.1% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 85.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Francisco Unified | Worcester |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer | 32.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 61.8°F | 79.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 30.0" ✓ Drier | 48.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 72.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 851,036 ✓ Larger | 204,191 |
| Median Age | 39.3 ✓ Older | 34.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 38.6% | 42.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.6% | 19.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.7% ✓ More | 13.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Francisco's cost of living index is 117.1 vs Worcester's 103.8 (US average = 100).
Worcester is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, San Francisco leads 12 of 21 categories. San Francisco 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 San Francisco to Worcester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,348,700 vs $305,600 median home), income ($136,689 vs $63,011), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Francisco, CA and Worcester, MA are about 2,689 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.