Worcester receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Worcester
Providence-Warwick
Opportunity
64 · Top 32%
vs61 · Top 40%
Growth
53 · Top 46%
vs48 · Bottom 47%
Climate
61 · Bottom 31%
vs65 · Bottom 45%
Physical resilience
86 · Top 8%
vs83 · Top 11%
Housing affordability
84 · Bottom 25%
vs79 · Bottom 20%
Access
80 · Top 44%
vs99 · Top 4%
Economic stability
87 · Top 6%
vs77 · Top 17%
Measured values
| Metric | Worcester | Providence-Warwick | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 867,788 | 1,684,071 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $95,939 | $87,040 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $48,914 | $46,322 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 574/sq mi | 1,061/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $423,700 | $422,500 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,426 | $1,307 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 65.8% | 63.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.2% | 3.7% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.3% | -2.5% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 39.7% | 35.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 10.3% | 11.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 1,793 | 3,164 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 2.1 | 1.9 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -8.5% | 12.2% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 80°F | 84°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 17°F | 22°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 48.3" | 47.5" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 41 mi | 7 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 31.4 min | 28.7 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 40.2 | 40.7 | 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
Worcester
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Providence-Warwick
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.
Worcester
73
Your Score
71
Area Score
Providence-Warwick
73
Your Score
69
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Worcester, MA Metro Area · Providence-Warwick, RI-MA Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology