Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Waco, TX
VS
Worcester, MA
🏆 Waco leads 11 of 21 categories
Waco
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,421
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
140,545
Worcester
Massachusetts
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,011 ✓ Higher
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.
Waco, TX
Pros
Homes cost $132k less ($174,100 vs $305,600)
Rent averages $274/mo less ($1,038 vs $1,312)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (4.5%)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Worcester
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 32°F
Cons
Median income trails Worcester by $15,590/yr
Worcester, MA
Pros
96% less violent crime than Waco
Households earn $15,590 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (16.5 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 95°F
More college-educated — 33.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $305,600
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Waco
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 4.5%)
Snowy winters — about 73" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Waco
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 103.8 (100 = US avg)
Waco
Median Home Value
$132k less
$174,100 vs $305,600
Waco
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
4.5% vs 6.6% unemployment
Waco
Summer Heat
14.7°F warmer
July avg high 94.5°F vs 79.8°F
Worcester
Median Income
$15,590
$63,011 vs $47,421/yr
Worcester
Violent Crime
96% lower
16.5 vs 425.9 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Waco, TX | Worcester, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 103.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $174,100 ✓ Lower | $305,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,038 ✓ Lower | $1,312 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $47,421 | $63,011 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.5 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 | 108⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 4 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 101⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.3:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% | 33.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.0% | 85.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | WACO ISD | Worcester |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.5°F ✓ Warmer | 32.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.5°F ✓ Warmer | 79.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.7" ✓ Drier | 48.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 72.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 140,545 | 204,191 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.8 | 34.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.3% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% ✓ More | 19.5% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 13.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Waco's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Worcester's 103.8 (US average = 100).
Waco is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Waco leads 11 of 21 categories. Waco wins 11 and Worcester wins 10. 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 Waco to Worcester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($174,100 vs $305,600 median home), income ($47,421 vs $63,011), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Waco, TX and Worcester, MA are about 1,577 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.