Head-to-Head · City Comparison
South Gate, CA
VS
Worcester, MA
🏆 Worcester leads 14 of 21 categories
South Gate
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,188 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
138⚠ High
Population
92,381
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.
South Gate, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 32°F
Households earn $4,177 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $578,900
Violent crime (525.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (3598.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Worcester, MA
Pros
Homes cost $273k less ($305,600 vs $578,900)
97% less violent crime than South Gate
Violent crime is well below the national average (16.5 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 33.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (6.6%)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails South Gate by $4,177/yr
Snowy winters — about 73" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
South Gate
Median Income
$4,177
$67,188 vs $63,011/yr
Worcester
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Worcester
Violent Crime
97% lower
16.5 vs 525.6 per 100k
Worcester
Median Home Value
$273k less
$305,600 vs $578,900
Worcester
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
6.6% vs 7.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | South Gate, 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 | $578,900⚠ High | $305,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,400⚠ High | $1,312 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,188 ✓ Higher | $63,011 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High | 24.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 9.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 152⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 138⚠ High | 4 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 171⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (72) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.0:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 11.5% | 33.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 58.8% | 85.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Westbrook Academy District | Worcester |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer | 32.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.0°F ✓ Warmer | 79.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.2" ✓ Drier | 48.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 72.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,381 | 204,191 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 34.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.8% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% ✓ More | 19.5% |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 13.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
South Gate'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. South Gate 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 South Gate to Worcester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($578,900 vs $305,600 median home), income ($67,188 vs $63,011), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
South Gate, CA and Worcester, MA are about 2,554 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.