Boston or Worcester: which is better?
US metro area: head-to-head comparison
Worcester wins on more indicators: 6 of 11 against 4.
- Money: Worcester 1:3
- Climate and risks: tie 3:3
All indicators weigh the same. This is a score based on data, not advice on where to live: different people have different circumstances.
Boston
Indicator
Worcester
Money
Better: Worcester (1 : 3)Per capita income
higher is better
✓$104,104
202445% higher
✗$71,909
202431% lower
Typical rent
lower is better
✗$2,987
2026-09-3042% higher
✓$2,105
2026-09-3030% lower
Typical home value
lower is better
✗$725,639
2026-09-3052% higher
✓$476,551
2026-09-3034% lower
Price level
lower is better
✗108.3 100 = US average
20246% higher
✓102.5 100 = US average
20245% lower
Climate and risks
Tie (3 : 3)Air: median AQI
lower is better
✗43 AQI
202416% higher
✓37 AQI
202414% lower
Days with unhealthy air
lower is better
✗5 days per year
2024150% higher
✓2 days per year
202460% lower
Hot days (max ≥ +30 °C)
lower is better
✗33 days per year
2016-202598% higher
✓17 days per year
2016-202550% lower
Frost days (min ≤ −10 °C)
lower is better
✓7 days per year
2016-202561% lower
✗18 days per year
2016-2025157% higher
Severe frost (min ≤ −20 °C)
lower is better
✓0.3 days per year
2016-202563% lower
✗0.8 days per year
2016-2025167% higher
Ice days (max ≤ 0 °C)
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
16 days per year
2016-2025
35 days per year
2016-2025
Heating degree days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
2,783 °C·days per year
2016-2025
3,322 °C·days per year
2016-2025
Cooling degree days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
566 °C·days per year
2016-2025
384 °C·days per year
2016-2025
Rainy days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
103 days per year
2016-2025
109 days per year
2016-2025
Snowfall days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
8 days per year
2016-2025
14 days per year
2016-2025
Annual precipitation
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
1,102 mm per year
2016-2025
1,307 mm per year
2016-2025
Daylight on December 21
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
9.1 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
9.1 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
Daylight on June 21
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
15.3 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
15.3 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
Air humidity
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
66 %
2021-2025
69 %
2021-2025
Muggy days (dew point ≥ +20 °C)
lower is better
✓20 days per year
2021-202511% lower
✗22 days per year
2021-202513% higher
Distance to the sea
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
3 km
2006-2025
62 km
2006-2025
Earthquakes M4.5+ within 100 km
tie
0.00 per year
2006-2025
0.00 per year
2006-2025
Urban environment
no winnerPopulation
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
5,025,517 people
2024
881,248 people
2024
A winner is named only for indicators with a known “better / worse” direction. Population and other neutral indicators are shown without a winner. Outdated and missing values are not counted. Details for each place: Boston, Worcester.