City Comparison
Cambridge vs Worcester
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Worcester scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Cambridge
Worcester
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Worcester is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
38% lower than in Cambridge.
Housing costs are a major driver: Cambridge's average rent is
72% higher than Worcester's.
| Metric | Cambridge | Worcester | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $3,100 | $1,800 | +72% |
| Groceries | $520 | $400 | +30% |
| Utilities | $210 | $180 | +17% |
| Transport | $100 | $90 | +11% |
| Healthcare | $280 | $150 | +87% |
| Monthly Total | $4,210 | $2,620 | +61% |
| Cost Index | 165 | 95 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Cambridge offers 37% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Worcester delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Cambridge is estimated at
$85,000 vs $55,000 in Worcester.
| Metric | Cambridge | Worcester |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $92,000 | $67,000 |
| Salary Needed | $85,000 | $55,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 55,758 idx | 70,526 idx |
| Household Income | $118,500 | $70,102 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Cambridge runs warmer on average — a 51°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Cambridge comes out ahead with 250 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Cambridge sees 25 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Cambridge | Worcester |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 51.00°F | °F |
| Summer High | 80.50°F | °F |
| Winter Low | 20.60°F | °F |
| Rainfall | 40.20 in | in |
| Snowfall | 25.00 in | in |
| Sunny Days | 250 | |
| Humidity | 64.00% | 67.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Worcester has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
2,000 minutes (33 hours) per year compared to Cambridge.
Cambridge scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Cambridge leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Cambridge | Worcester |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 28 min | 24 min |
| Transit Score | 85.0/100 | 34.0/100 |
| Walkability | 91.0/100 | 56.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 58.00 | 36.00 |
| Car Dependency | Low | Medium |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Worcester is the larger city
— approximately 0.6x the population of Cambridge.
From a growth perspective, Worcester is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Cambridge has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Cambridge | Worcester |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 118,258 | 207,055 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.80% | 2.40% |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 33.9 |
| Unemployment | 3.20% | 4.30% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Cambridge
Advantages
World-class public transit and pedestrian infrastructure with a Walk Score over 90 per Redfin 2025 data
Global epicenter for biotechnology and life sciences careers centered around Kendall Square per BLS 2025 reports
Home to two top-tier global universities (Harvard and MIT) driving an intellectually vibrant cultural scene
Exceptionally low violent crime rate relative to national urban averages per FBI crime data 2025
Extensive green spaces, including miles of accessible waterfront along the Charles River Esplanade
Drawbacks
Extremely high cost of living, with average rents exceeding 3,000 USD per Zillow 2025 market reports
Severe housing shortage and hyper-competitive real estate market driving up purchase prices
Heavy traffic congestion and limited street parking for vehicle owners
State and local tax burdens that trend higher than the national average
Significant seasonal population fluctuations driven by the academic calendar
Worcester
Advantages
Worcester offers a cost of living that is more affordable than the national average, particularly in housing costs compared to Boston.
The city has a growing job market with strong sectors in healthcare, education, and technology, supported by major employers and research institutions.
Worcester boasts a vibrant arts and culture scene, with numerous theaters, museums, and a diverse culinary landscape.
The median property value in Worcester, while increasing, remains more accessible than in many other Massachusetts municipalities.
Worcester has a Walk Score of 56, indicating that some daily errands can be accomplished on foot, and offers public transit options including MBTA Commuter Rail service to Boston.
Drawbacks
Worcester experienced a significant surge in homicides in 2024, marking the highest number in nearly four years.
While improving, the city's transit score is 34, suggesting that public transportation accessibility and frequency could be enhanced.
The median household income in Worcester ($70,102 in 2024) is lower than the median for Worcester County ($95,900 from 2020-2024).
Worcester's crime trajectory is described as volatile, and it has a higher violent-to-property crime ratio than the national average.
Despite a growing job market, salary growth in Worcester County has lagged behind state and national averages, with notable racial and ethnic disparities in unemployment.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Cambridge
#424Massachusetts, USA
57.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$3,100
Avg Salary
$92,000
Cost Index
165
Commute
28 min
Transit Score
85.0/100
Walkability
91.0/100
Sunny Days
250/yr
Avg Temp
51.00°F
Pop. Growth
0.80%
Unemployment
3.20%
Livability
88
Business
92
Worcester
#346Massachusetts, USA
60.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,800
Avg Salary
$67,000
Cost Index
95
Commute
24 min
Transit Score
34.0/100
Walkability
56.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
2.40%
Unemployment
4.30%
Livability
74
Business
68
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