Worcester receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk
Worcester
Opportunity
52 · Bottom 44%
vs64 · Top 32%
Growth
41 · Bottom 35%
vs46 · Bottom 42%
Climate
76 · Top 18%
vs61 · Bottom 29%
Physical resilience
83 · Top 13%
vs86 · Top 9%
Housing affordability
79 · Bottom 28%
vs84 · Bottom 34%
Access
87 · Top 44%
vs80 · Bottom 44%
Economic stability
81 · Top 18%
vs87 · Top 9%
Measured values
| Metric | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | Worcester | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 1,787,235 | 867,788 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $82,330 | $95,939 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $44,050 | $48,914 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 558/sq mi | 574/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $340,900 | $423,700 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,478 | $1,426 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 63.4% | 65.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.0% | 4.2% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -2.0% | -1.3% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 35.8% | 39.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 10.8% | 10.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 5,224 | 1,793 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 2.9 | 2.1 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 13.0% | -8.5% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 89°F | 80°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 34°F | 17°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 45.7" | 48.3" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 21 mi | 41 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 26.7 min | 31.4 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 37.4 | 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
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
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.
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk
71
Your Score
69
Area Score
Worcester
72
Your Score
71
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC Metro Area · Worcester, MA Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology