Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Leandro, CA
VS
Worcester, MA
🏆 Worcester leads 12 of 21 categories
San Leandro
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,141 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
144⚠ High
Population
89,723
Worcester
Massachusetts
12
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.
San Leandro, CA
Pros
Households earn $34,130 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (5.0%)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 32°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 72°F vs 80°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $772,700
Higher rents — median is $1,997/mo
Violent crime (548.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Worcester, MA
Pros
Homes cost $467k less ($305,600 vs $772,700)
97% less violent crime than San Leandro
Rent averages $685/mo less ($1,312 vs $1,997)
Violent crime is well below the national average (16.5 vs 380/100k)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than San Leandro
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails San Leandro by $34,130/yr
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.0%)
Snowy winters — about 73" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
San Leandro
Median Income
$34,130
$97,141 vs $63,011/yr
San Leandro
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.6% unemployment
Worcester
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 103.8 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Worcester
Violent Crime
97% lower
16.5 vs 548.7 per 100k
Worcester
Median Home Value
$467k less
$305,600 vs $772,700
Worcester
Summer Heat
8.2°F warmer
July avg high 79.8°F vs 71.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Leandro, CA | Worcester, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 103.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $772,700⚠ High | $305,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,997⚠ High | $1,312 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $97,141 ✓ Higher | $63,011 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.6 min⚠ High | 24.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.2% ✓ Higher | 9.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 161⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 144⚠ High | 4 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 187⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.6:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.9% | 33.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.3% | 85.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Leandro Unified | Worcester |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.7°F ✓ Warmer | 32.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 71.6°F | 79.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.7" ✓ Drier | 48.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 72.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,723 | 204,191 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.5 ✓ Older | 34.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.9% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 17.1% | 19.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.6% ✓ More | 13.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Leandro's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Worcester's 103.8 (US average = 100).
Worcester is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Worcester leads 12 of 21 categories. San Leandro wins 9 and Worcester wins 12. 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 Leandro to Worcester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($772,700 vs $305,600 median home), income ($97,141 vs $63,011), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Leandro, CA and Worcester, MA are about 2,646 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.