Milwaukee-Waukesha and Worcester receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
Milwaukee-Waukesha
Worcester
Opportunity
71 · Top 22%
vs64 · Top 32%
Growth
25 · Bottom 12%
vs46 · Bottom 42%
Climate
61 · Bottom 30%
vs61 · Bottom 29%
Physical resilience
98 · Top 1%
vs86 · Top 9%
Housing affordability
90 · Bottom 46%
vs84 · Bottom 34%
Access
64 · Bottom 21%
vs80 · Bottom 44%
Economic stability
77 · Top 24%
vs87 · Top 9%
Measured values
| Metric | Milwaukee-Waukesha | Worcester | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 1,568,938 | 867,788 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $78,218 | $95,939 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $45,732 | $48,914 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,078/sq mi | 574/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $306,400 | $423,700 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,139 | $1,426 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 60.4% | 65.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.8% | 4.2% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 0.4% | -1.3% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 39.6% | 39.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 12.3% | 10.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 3,000 | 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) | -19.5% | -8.5% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 82°F | 80°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 17°F | 17°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 34.6" | 48.3" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 65 mi | 41 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 24.3 min | 31.4 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 38.7 | 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
Milwaukee-Waukesha
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.
Milwaukee-Waukesha
69
Your Score
70
Area Score
Worcester
72
Your Score
71
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI Metro Area · Worcester, MA Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology