Albany → Worcester
Relocation analysis based on 7 federal data sources
Should you move?
Moving from Albany to Worcester is favorable: BEA regional price parity goes from 102.1 to 102.5 (US = 100), and HUD 2-bedroom rent rises by $249/mo.
- +$11,407
- BLS median salary higher in Worcester
- 335 to 309
- violent crimes per 100K (FBI UCR, state-level)
- 17.6:1 to 12.3:1
- NCES student-teacher ratio
- $7,932
- DOL infant care higher / yr in Worcester
BEA Regional Price Parity, HUD Fair Market Rent, BLS OEWS, FBI UCR, NCES, and DOL. The table below lets you override the composite with your own priorities.
Pros of Moving
- + $11K higher median salary
- + Better student-teacher ratios
- + Fewer environmental violations
Cons of Moving
- - $249/mo more expensive rent (2BR)
- - More expensive childcare
Purchasing power stays near-even: BEA RPP moves only from 102.1 to 102.5 (ratio 1.00), inside a ±5% band. HUD 2BR Fair Market Rent rises $249/mo ($2,988/yr) from $1,500 in Albany to $1,749 in Worcester.
The seven-dimension ledger splits (4 destination wins · 3 origin wins); priorities decide this move. Worcester sits #130 of 387 metros on PlainRelocate livability (middle third). Albany is #281/387 on the same ranking. Composite verdict: Favorable. Override it with the dimension table below.
BLS OEWS median salary moves $11,407 higher ($67,935 → $79,342). Labor-market size: 42,220 tracked jobs at origin vs 337,180 at destination.
State retirement friendliness is near-even: Oregon 41 (F, #49/51) vs Massachusetts 45 (F, #48/51). Full state tax and healthcare sub-scores sit in the retirement desk below.
State retirement friendliness
Primary-state scores from PlainRelocate's retirement registry (tax + healthcare + climate composite). Metro pairs use each metro's primary state abbreviation.
- Income tax
- 62
- Property tax
- 64
- Estate tax
- 50
- Healthcare
- 14
- Income tax
- 55
- Property tax
- 65
- Estate tax
- 50
- Healthcare
- 84
Full retirement ranking · Source composite documented on methodology (Tax Foundation + AARP tax guides + federal healthcare/climate inputs).
Salary Adjustment Calculator
Enter your current salary in Albany to see what you'd need to earn in Worcester to maintain the same purchasing power.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA; retirement desk: Tax Foundation + AARP tax guides June 2026