Head-to-Head · City Comparison
St. Petersburg, FL
VS
Worcester, MA
🏆 St. Petersburg leads 17 of 21 categories
St. Petersburg
Florida
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$70,333 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
259,343 ✓ Larger
Worcester
Massachusetts
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High
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.
St. Petersburg, FL
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (4.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 32°F
Households earn $7,322 more per year on average
More college-educated — 40.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Homes cost $17k less ($289,000 vs $305,600)
Cons
Violent crime (619.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2458.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $1,410/mo
Worcester, MA
Pros
97% less violent crime than St. Petersburg
Violent crime is well below the national average (16.5 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 90°F
Rent averages $98/mo less ($1,312 vs $1,410)
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails St. Petersburg by $7,322/yr
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 4.6%)
Snowy winters — about 73" of snow per year
Pricier housing — median home is $305,600
Key Differences at a Glance
St. Petersburg
Median Income
$7,322
$70,333 vs $63,011/yr
St. Petersburg
Median Home Value
$17k less
$289,000 vs $305,600
St. Petersburg
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
4.6% vs 6.6% unemployment
St. Petersburg
Summer Heat
9.8°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 79.8°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 103.4 on the COL index
Worcester
Violent Crime
97% lower
16.5 vs 619.6 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | St. Petersburg, FL | Worcester, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 103.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $289,000 ✓ Lower | $305,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,410⚠ High | $1,312 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $70,333 ✓ Higher | $63,011 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.0 min ✓ Shorter | 24.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 15.7% ✓ Higher | 9.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 145⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High | 4 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 117⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B+ (106) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.6% ✓ Higher | 33.1% |
| High School or Higher | 93.8% ✓ Higher | 85.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PINELLAS | Worcester |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.0°F ✓ Warmer | 32.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 79.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.6" ✓ Drier | 48.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 72.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 259,343 ✓ Larger | 204,191 |
| Median Age | 42.9 ✓ Older | 34.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.6% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 16.3% | 19.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.9% ✓ More | 13.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
St. Petersburg's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Worcester's 103.8 (US average = 100).
St. Petersburg is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, St. Petersburg leads 17 of 21 categories. St. Petersburg wins 17 and Worcester wins 4. 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 St. Petersburg to Worcester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($289,000 vs $305,600 median home), income ($70,333 vs $63,011), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
St. Petersburg, FL and Worcester, MA are about 1,173 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.