Baltimore-Columbia-Towson receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson
Worcester
Opportunity
74 · Top 18%
vs64 · Top 32%
Growth
31 · Bottom 22%
vs46 · Bottom 42%
Climate
71 · Top 35%
vs61 · Bottom 29%
Physical resilience
94 · Top 3%
vs86 · Top 9%
Housing affordability
86 · Bottom 38%
vs84 · Bottom 34%
Access
98 · Top 13%
vs80 · Bottom 44%
Economic stability
87 · Top 9%
vs87 · Top 9%
Measured values
| Metric | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson | Worcester | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 2,849,436 | 867,788 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $99,470 | $95,939 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $52,391 | $48,914 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,095/sq mi | 574/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $391,300 | $423,700 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,611 | $1,426 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 66.9% | 65.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.0% | 4.2% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 0.4% | -1.3% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 44.0% | 39.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 9.8% | 10.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 5,304 | 1,793 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 1.9 | 2.1 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -8.9% | -8.5% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 90°F | 80°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 30°F | 17°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 43.7" | 48.3" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 11 mi | 41 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 31.6 min | 31.4 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 39.0 | 40.2 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Worcester
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson
77
Your Score
76
Area Score
Worcester
72
Your Score
71
Area Score
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Full profiles: Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD Metro Area · Worcester, MA Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology