Providence vs Worcester
Compare Providence, RI and Worcester, MA on cost, HUD rent, safety, climate, commute, schools, outdoor access, food, and source-labeled relocation data.
The verdict
Housing costs are close: ACS median rent is $1,165/mo in Providence and $1,241/mo in Worcester, with HUD 2-bedroom benchmarks of $1,693/mo and $1,661/mo. State income tax also separates them — Providence's rate is roughly 6.0% versus 9%. Across the four public-data screens Providence comes out ahead (265 vs 230 summed points), though Worcester still wins specific categories below.
Their climates screen similarly — summer highs near 82°F and 80°F respectively. If lower housing cost leads your list, start with Providence; if walkable daily life matters more, Providence screens stronger on the walkability proxy (27 vs 22). These are metro-level public-data screens — verify neighborhoods, school districts, commutes, and actual listings before deciding.
Category summary
Providence leads 71 to 61 on the cost and climate screen.
Both cities are close on the work screen.
Providence leads 58 to 39 on the daily life screen.
Providence leads 65 to 61 on the community screen.
$85,000 in Providence is roughly $82,442 in Worcester using WhereToThrive's cost index and state-tax adjustment.
Category comparison
| Metric | Providence | Worcester | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACS median gross rent | $1,165/mo | $1,241/mo | Providence |
| HUD 2BR FMR | $1,693/mo | $1,661/mo | Worcester |
| Median home value | $358,000 | $347,000 | Worcester |
| State income tax | 6.0% | 9% | Providence |
| Average commute | 28.6 min | 31.6 min | Providence |
| Safety score | 72/100 | 68/100 | Providence |
| School score | 6/10 | 6/10 | Tie |
| Walkability estimate | 27/100 | 22/100 | Providence |
| Outdoor score | 7/10 | 7/10 | Tie |
| Restaurants per 100k | 219.6 | 150.0 | Providence |
| Mountain distance | 28 mi | 11 mi | Worcester |
| Coast distance | 3 mi | 39 mi | Providence |
| Climate-risk composite (FEMA NRI) | 98/100 | 96/100 | Providence |
| Coastal flooding risk percentile (NRI) | 82th | 0th | Worcester |
| Ice storm risk percentile (NRI) | 46th | 83th | Providence |
| Wildfire risk percentile (NRI) | 3th | 26th | Providence |
What stands out
Providence stronger signals
- Strong food and nightlife amenities score
- Public park/protected-area signal within 1 miles
- Ski location within 18 miles
- Named beach within 3 miles
Providence tradeoffs
- No major generic tradeoffs identified
Worcester stronger signals
- Public park/protected-area signal within 1 miles
- Ski location within 5 miles
- Named beach within 4 miles
- Coast access within 39 miles
Worcester tradeoffs
- High top marginal state income tax
- Cold winters
Common questions
Is Providence cheaper than Worcester?
On public benchmarks Providence is the cheaper metro: ACS median rent is $1,165/mo in Providence vs $1,241/mo in Worcester; HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents are $1,693/mo vs $1,661/mo; state income tax is 6.0% vs 9%.
Is Providence or Worcester safer?
Providence screens safer at the metro level: safety scores are 72/100 for Providence and 68/100 for Worcester (FBI-reported metro rates; neighborhood variation is larger than metro averages).
Which is better for families, Providence or Worcester?
School screens show 6/10 for Providence vs 6/10 for Worcester, alongside the safety scores above. Both screen similarly — district-level research will matter more than the metro gap.
How different is the climate between Providence and Worcester?
Providence: summer highs near 82°F, winter lows near 20°F, disaster-risk band 1/3. Worcester: 80°F / 14°F, disaster-risk band 1/3 (NOAA climate normals).
Keep researching
Score this comparison with your own constraints
Public comparison pages use equal-weighted signals. The questionnaire reweights cities around your housing budget, climate preferences, work needs, family needs, and daily-life priorities.
Start City Match