Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Tracy, CA
VS
Worcester, MA
🏆 Worcester leads 11 of 21 categories
Tracy
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$111,717 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
79
Population
94,027
Worcester
Massachusetts
11
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.
Tracy, CA
Pros
Households earn $48,706 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (5.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 32°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $617,300
Higher rents — median is $2,162/mo
Longer commutes — 43.5 min average each way
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Worcester
Worcester, MA
Pros
Homes cost $312k less ($305,600 vs $617,300)
95% less violent crime than Tracy
Rent averages $850/mo less ($1,312 vs $2,162)
Commutes run 19 min shorter each way
Violent crime is well below the national average (16.5 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 33.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Tracy by $48,706/yr
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.4%)
Snowy winters — about 73" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Tracy
Median Income
$48,706
$111,717 vs $63,011/yr
Tracy
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.6% unemployment
Tracy
Summer Heat
13.4°F warmer
July avg high 93.2°F vs 79.8°F
Worcester
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 103.8 vs 107.4 (100 = US avg)
Worcester
Violent Crime
95% lower
16.5 vs 301.4 per 100k
Worcester
Median Home Value
$312k less
$305,600 vs $617,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Tracy, CA | Worcester, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.4⚠ High | 103.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $617,300⚠ High | $305,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,162⚠ High | $1,312 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $111,717 ✓ Higher | $63,011 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 43.5 min⚠ High | 24.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.4% ✓ Higher | 9.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 78 | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 | 4 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 76 | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (71) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.0:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.4% | 33.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.9% | 85.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson Elementary | Worcester |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer | 32.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer | 79.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.7" ✓ Drier | 48.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 72.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,027 | 204,191 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.4 ✓ Older | 34.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.0% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 26.6% ✓ More | 19.5% |
| Over 65 | 9.7% | 13.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Tracy's cost of living index is 107.4 vs Worcester's 103.8 (US average = 100).
Worcester is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Worcester leads 11 of 21 categories. Tracy wins 10 and Worcester wins 11. 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 Tracy to Worcester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($617,300 vs $305,600 median home), income ($111,717 vs $63,011), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Tracy, CA and Worcester, MA are about 2,609 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.