Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Sparks, NV
VS
Worcester, MA
🏆 Sparks leads 12 of 21 categories
Sparks
Nevada
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,938 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High
Population
108,025
Worcester
Massachusetts
9
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.
Sparks, NV
Pros
Households earn $19,927 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (6.1%)
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 32°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $423,500
Higher rents — median is $1,526/mo
Property crime (2583.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Worcester, MA
Pros
96% less violent crime than Sparks
Homes cost $118k less ($305,600 vs $423,500)
Violent crime is well below the national average (16.5 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $214/mo less ($1,312 vs $1,526)
More college-educated — 33.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 92°F
Cons
Median income trails Sparks by $19,927/yr
Snowy winters — about 73" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Sparks
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 103.2 vs 103.8 (100 = US avg)
Sparks
Median Income
$19,927
$82,938 vs $63,011/yr
Sparks
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
6.1% vs 6.6% unemployment
Sparks
Summer Heat
12.3°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 79.8°F
Worcester
Violent Crime
96% lower
16.5 vs 394.4 per 100k
Worcester
Median Home Value
$118k less
$305,600 vs $423,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Sparks, NV | Worcester, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 103.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $423,500⚠ High | $305,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,526⚠ High | $1,312 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,938 ✓ Higher | $63,011 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.3 min ✓ Shorter | 24.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 9.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 104⚠ High | 4 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.0:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.4% | 33.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.8% | 85.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Washoe County | Worcester |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.2°F ✓ Warmer | 32.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer | 79.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.4" ✓ Drier | 48.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.8" ✓ Less | 72.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,025 | 204,191 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 34.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.4% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 23.5% ✓ More | 19.5% |
| Over 65 | 15.5% ✓ More | 13.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Sparks's cost of living index is 103.2 vs Worcester's 103.8 (US average = 100).
Sparks is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Sparks leads 12 of 21 categories. Sparks 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 Sparks to Worcester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($423,500 vs $305,600 median home), income ($82,938 vs $63,011), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Sparks, NV and Worcester, MA are about 2,475 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.