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
Opportunity
57 · Top 48%
vs49 · Bottom 34%
Growth
68 · Top 19%
vs50 · Top 49%
Climate
61 · Bottom 18%
vs65 · Bottom 34%
Physical resilience
85 · Top 15%
vs72 · Top 33%
Housing affordability
59 · Bottom 25%
vs60 · Bottom 27%
Access
79 · Bottom 16%
vs99 · Top 18%
Economic stability
48 · Bottom 26%
vs44 · Bottom 19%
Measured values
| Metric | Worcester | Providence | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 207,055 | 191,767 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $70,102 | $68,119 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $37,221 | $37,138 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 5,542/sq mi | 10,419/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $374,400 | $362,200 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,487 | $1,408 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 42.8% | 41.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.4% | 3.9% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.3% | -2.6% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 35.2% | 34.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 19.6% | 20.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 720 | 363 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 3.5 | 1.9 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 25.2% | 33.5% | 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 | 26.5 min | 27.2 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 33.9 | 32.8 | 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
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Worcester
65
Your Score
66
Area Score
Providence
63
Your Score
62
Area Score
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Full profiles: Worcester, MA · Providence, RI · How this is calculated: methodology