| Measure | WorcesterMassachusetts, United States Remove Worcester | NorthamptonMassachusetts, United States Remove Northampton |
|---|---|---|
| Scores (out of 10) | ||
| Overall score | 6.7 | 6.0 |
| Connector Score | 8.6 | 8.1 |
| Safety | 9.9 | 6.5 |
| Affordability | 5.2 | 5.0 |
| Transportation | 8.5 | 7.0 |
| Car-free friendliness | 6.0 | 6.5 |
| Walkability | 4.5 | 6.8 |
| Things to do | 6.6 | 5.2 |
| Food & dining | 6.8 | 5.2 |
| Places to stay | 6.3 | 5.0 |
| Nature & outdoors | 3.5 | 5.5 |
| Scenic value | 4.8 | 5.5 |
| Family friendliness | 5.5 | 4.8 |
| Solo-traveler friendliness | 6.3 | 6.0 |
| Nightlife | 4.8 | 4.0 |
| Remote-work friendliness | 5.9 | 4.5 |
| Road-trip convenience | 6.5 | 6.5 |
| Train-trip convenience | 7.8 | 8.0 |
| Bus-trip convenience | 1.5 | 7.3 |
| Cost (per person per day, USD) | ||
| Budget | $125 | $68 |
| Mid-range | $190 | $108 |
| Luxury | $307 | $183 |
| Living there | ||
| Cost of living index (national = 100) | 113 | 115 |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent | $1,890 | $1,488 |
| Population | 214K | 30K |
| Getting there | ||
| Accessible by | Drive Train Airport | Drive Train Bus |
| Car recommended | — | — |
| Travel time from Worcester | — | 1 h 10 min details |
| Character | ||
| Best for | — | — |
| Known for | Lakes & rivers, Museums & galleries, Food scene, Live music, Pro sports, Shopping | Mountains & hiking, Lakes & rivers, Museums & galleries, Historic sites, Food scene, Live music |
| When to go | Peak: College move-in and graduation weeks, R… | — |
Scores and costs are estimates from public data and our own research; check the city pages for sources and dates.