City Comparison
Watertown vs Worcester
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
Massachusetts, USA
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VS
Worcester scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Watertown
Worcester
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
| Metric | Watertown | Worcester | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $0 | $1,800 | -100% |
| Groceries | $0 | $400 | -100% |
| Utilities | $0 | $180 | -100% |
| Transport | $0 | $90 | -100% |
| Healthcare | $0 | $150 | -100% |
| Monthly Total | $0 | $2,620 | -100% |
| Cost Index | 95 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Worcester offers 100% lower average salaries.
| Metric | Watertown | Worcester |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $0 | $67,000 |
| Salary Needed | $0 | $55,000 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
| Metric | Watertown | Worcester |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | °F | °F |
| Summer High | °F | °F |
| Winter Low | °F | °F |
| Rainfall | in | in |
| Snowfall | in | in |
| Sunny Days | ||
| Humidity | % | 67.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Watertown has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
12,000 minutes (200 hours) per year compared to Worcester.
Worcester scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Worcester leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Watertown | Worcester |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | min | 24 min |
| Transit Score | — | 34.0/100 |
| Walkability | — | 56.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 36.00 | |
| Car Dependency | Medium |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Worcester is the larger city
.
From a growth perspective, Worcester is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Watertown has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Watertown | Worcester |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 0 | 207,055 |
| Pop. Growth | — | 2.40% |
| Median Age | 33.9 | |
| Unemployment | % | 4.30% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Watertown
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.
Watertown
Massachusetts, USA
0.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$0
Avg Salary
$0
Cost Index
Commute
min
Transit Score
—
Walkability
—
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
%
Livability
0
Business
0
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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