Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from Worcester to New York
Based on the 2024 ACS 5-year estimates, comparing Worcester, Massachusetts, and New York, New York, reveals distinct economic and logistical trade-offs. Worcester offers a lower median gross rent of $1,487 and a median home value of $374,400, paired with a median household income of $70,102 and a faster one-way commute of 27 minutes. Conversely, New York presents a higher median household income of $80,483, but features elevated housing costs with a median gross rent of $1,821 and a median home value of $777,600, alongside a longer 44-minute commute. New York also includes a simplified state individual income-tax reference of 5.50%, while Worcester's state income tax is excluded. Both cities share a uniform non-housing calculator baseline of $1,250 per month. Neither city emerges as a universal winner, as the choice depends entirely on individual priorities regarding income, housing expenses, commuting time, and tax considerations.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to New York → WorcesterMoving from Worcester to New York
Median Rent Impact
+$334/mo
Moving to New York costs ~$4,008 more/yr in rent.
State Tax Treatment
+5.5%
~$5,500 more state tax on a $100k salary in New York.
Daily Commute Difference
+17 min / day
Difference of ~142 hours per year spent commuting based on 2024 ACS midpoint averages.
Your move
Compare the life behind the offer.
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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 → NYC
43/ 100
The offer needs work
Your modeled annual room improves.Estimated annual life delta+$2,216after essentials; unverified state tax excluded
Best gainThe deepest employment market and largest-city scale in the reviewed cohort
Watch closelyThe cohort's longest commute estimate plus a separate New York City resident income tax
The short answer
In the uniform one-person renting baseline, Worcester is about $4,008 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
New York household income$80,483
Worcester gross rent$1,487
New York gross rent$1,821
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | Worcester | New York |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 207,055 | 8,483,844 |
| Median household income | $70,102 | $80,483 |
| Median gross rent | $1,487 | $1,821 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $374,400 | $777,600 |
| State-tax treatment | Excluded | 5.5% simplified |
Time and daily routine
The commute-time distribution produces a weighted one-way estimate of about 27 minutes in Worcester and 44 minutes in New York. 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 household income differences
- Median gross rent comparisons
- Median owner-occupied home values
- Derived one-way commute times
What each city wins
Worcester
A median owner-occupied home value of $374,400.. Watch a 27-minute derived commute against citywide median costs..
New York
The deepest employment market and largest-city scale in the reviewed cohort. Watch the cohort's longest commute estimate plus a separate new york city resident income tax.
Frequently asked questions
How do median gross rents compare between Worcester and New York?
According to the 2024 ACS 5-year estimates, Worcester has a median gross rent of $1,487 per month, while New York has a higher median gross rent of $1,821 per month.
What are the estimated one-way commute times for both cities?
Based on weighted midpoints in the 2024 ACS table B08303, the derived one-way commute estimate is 27 minutes for Worcester and 44 minutes for New York.
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.