Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Tampa, FL
VS
Worcester, MA
🏆 Tampa leads 13 of 21 categories
Tampa
Florida
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,802 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
117⚠ High
Population
388,768 ✓ Larger
Worcester
Massachusetts
8
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.
Tampa, FL
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 32°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (5.2%)
More college-educated — 43.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $3,791 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (444.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $333,200
Higher rents — median is $1,422/mo
Worcester, MA
Pros
96% less violent crime than Tampa
Violent crime is well below the national average (16.5 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $28k less ($305,600 vs $333,200)
Rent averages $110/mo less ($1,312 vs $1,422)
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.2%)
Snowy winters — about 73" of snow per year
Median income trails Tampa by $3,791/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Tampa
Median Income
$3,791
$66,802 vs $63,011/yr
Tampa
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
5.2% vs 6.6% unemployment
Tampa
Summer Heat
11.2°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 79.8°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 103.4 on the COL index
Worcester
Violent Crime
96% lower
16.5 vs 444.6 per 100k
Worcester
Median Home Value
$28k less
$305,600 vs $333,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Tampa, 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 | $333,200⚠ High | $305,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,422⚠ High | $1,312 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,802 ✓ Higher | $63,011 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.8 min | 24.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.0% ✓ Higher | 9.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 98 | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 117⚠ High | 4 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.7:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.3% ✓ Higher | 33.1% |
| High School or Higher | 89.0% ✓ Higher | 85.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HILLSBOROUGH | Worcester |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.3°F ✓ Warmer | 32.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer | 79.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.5" | 48.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 72.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 388,768 ✓ Larger | 204,191 |
| Median Age | 35.5 ✓ Older | 34.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.5% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% ✓ More | 19.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 13.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Tampa's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Worcester's 103.8 (US average = 100).
Tampa is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Tampa leads 13 of 21 categories. Tampa wins 13 and Worcester wins 8. 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 Tampa to Worcester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($333,200 vs $305,600 median home), income ($66,802 vs $63,011), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Tampa, FL and Worcester, MA are about 1,156 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.