Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from Worcester to Los Angeles
Comparing Worcester, Massachusetts, and Los Angeles, California, using 2024 ACS data reveals distinct financial and logistical trade-offs. Worcester offers a lower cost of living with a median gross rent of $1,487 and a median owner-occupied home value of $374,400, paired with a median household income of $70,102 and a 27-minute commute. Los Angeles features a higher median household income of $81,939, but housing is considerably more expensive, with a median gross rent of $1,933 and a home value of $921,200. Furthermore, Los Angeles has a longer derived commute at 33 minutes and includes a simplified state individual income-tax reference of 9.30%, whereas Worcester's state income tax is excluded from this profile. Neither city can be declared a universal winner.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to Los Angeles → WorcesterMoving from Worcester to Los Angeles
Median Rent Impact
+$446/mo
Moving to Los Angeles costs ~$5,352 more/yr in rent.
State Tax Treatment
+9.3%
~$9,300 more state tax on a $100k salary in California.
Daily Commute Difference
+6 min / day
Difference of ~50 hours per year spent commuting based on 2024 ACS midpoint averages.
Your move
Compare the life behind the offer.
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Search all 32,330 U.S. Census places directly below.Instant results use official 2024 ACS place data. Places with incomplete required signals remain visible in search but cannot be selected.
Directional estimate using ACS citywide benchmarks. Verified profiles may include a simplified state-tax reference; automatically added profiles exclude state tax until an official reference is approved. Exact tax, benefits, debt, housing, insurance, and personal circumstances may materially change the result.
LIVE VERDICTWOR → LAX
43/ 100
The offer needs work
The destination absorbs more of the offer.Estimated annual life delta−$3,384after essentials; unverified state tax excluded
Best gainA large labor market with a household-income benchmark above New York's
Watch closelyA $921,200 ownership benchmark and a conservative marginal California tax reference
The short answer
In the uniform one-person renting baseline, Worcester is about $5,352 lower per year. This is not a verdict by itself: replace city medians with the actual offer, address, household, benefits, insurance, and tax details before deciding.
Worcester household income$70,102
Los Angeles household income$81,939
Worcester gross rent$1,487
Los Angeles gross rent$1,933
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | Worcester | Los Angeles |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 207,055 | 3,857,263 |
| Median household income | $70,102 | $81,939 |
| Median gross rent | $1,487 | $1,933 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $374,400 | $921,200 |
| State-tax treatment | Excluded | 9.3% simplified |
Time and daily routine
The commute-time distribution produces a weighted one-way estimate of about 27 minutes in Worcester and 33 minutes in Los Angeles. This citywide estimate cannot capture a specific route, remote-work schedule, or transit choice, so the calculator converts it into an explicit time difference instead of hiding it in a subjective lifestyle score.
Decision checklist
- Median gross rent differences
- Owner-occupied home value gap
- Derived one-way commute duration
- State individual income-tax presence
What each city wins
Worcester
A median owner-occupied home value of $374,400.. Watch a 27-minute derived commute against citywide median costs..
Los Angeles
A large labor market with a household-income benchmark above New York's. Watch a $921,200 ownership benchmark and a conservative marginal california tax reference.
Frequently asked questions
How do median gross rents compare between Worcester and Los Angeles?
Based on 2024 ACS data, the median gross rent is $1,487 per month in Worcester, Massachusetts, compared to $1,933 per month in Los Angeles, California.
What are the median household incomes for Worcester and Los Angeles?
The 2024 ACS median household income is $70,102 in Worcester, Massachusetts, and $81,939 in Los Angeles, California.
Source boundary: Core figures come from the 2024 ACS five-year tables linked on each city profile. Commute is derived from B08303 midpoint weighting. A state-tax value without an approved official reference is excluded and disclosed. This comparison becomes index-eligible only after its unique analysis clears the content quality gate.