Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Vancouver, WA
VS
Worcester, MA
🏆 Vancouver leads 13 of 21 categories
Vancouver
Washington
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,626 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
190,700
Worcester
Massachusetts
8
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.
Vancouver, WA
Pros
Households earn $10,615 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 32°F
Cons
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $403,400
Higher rents — median is $1,525/mo
Property crime (3407.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Worcester, MA
Pros
97% less violent crime than Vancouver
Homes cost $98k less ($305,600 vs $403,400)
Violent crime is well below the national average (16.5 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $213/mo less ($1,312 vs $1,525)
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Vancouver
Cons
Median income trails Vancouver by $10,615/yr
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.6%)
Snowy winters — about 73" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Vancouver
Median Income
$10,615
$73,626 vs $63,011/yr
Vancouver
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.6% unemployment
Worcester
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 103.8 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Worcester
Violent Crime
97% lower
16.5 vs 582.3 per 100k
Worcester
Median Home Value
$98k less
$305,600 vs $403,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Vancouver, WA | Worcester, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High | 103.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $403,400⚠ High | $305,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,525⚠ High | $1,312 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,626 ✓ Higher | $63,011 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.9 min ✓ Shorter | 24.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 9.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 157⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High | 4 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 162⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (97) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.0:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.2% | 33.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.3% ✓ Higher | 85.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Evergreen School District (Clark) | Worcester |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.0°F ✓ Warmer | 32.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 80.9°F ✓ Warmer | 79.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.4" ✓ Drier | 48.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.2" ✓ Less | 72.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 190,700 | 204,191 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 34.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.9% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% ✓ More | 19.5% |
| Over 65 | 16.1% ✓ More | 13.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Vancouver's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Worcester's 103.8 (US average = 100).
Worcester is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Vancouver leads 13 of 21 categories. Vancouver 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 Vancouver to Worcester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($403,400 vs $305,600 median home), income ($73,626 vs $63,011), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Vancouver, WA and Worcester, MA are about 2,494 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.