Which city is "better" Troy NY or Worcester MA?
 

I know neither one wins any prizes...But what are the pros/cons of each?

You must be considering engineering schools. I couldn't imagine why else you'd visit Troy (I'm not familiar with Worcester). I do know people who graduated from RPI, and they had a perfectly fine college experience. I went to nearby ALbany and visited RPI on occasion. The general area does have a lot going on (Saratoga, skiing, etc). The ALbany area is much more built up now than when I went to college.

What's the context? Worcester Poly vs RPI?

Troy is part if the greater NY capital district, and hence benefits from the broader area.

Troy itself is a place time has forgotten, and not in a good way. Industry, jobs, growth, renewal all have taken place elsewhere around the country, but Troy lags decades behind.

Worcester is on or near the very outer fringes of the Boston area, and so has received some influence of professional employment, shopping and housing, etc.

The biggest downside, as I see it, is you'd be squarely in the middle of BoSox territory. If you are a missionary, then go there knowing you have the strength of Babe, Lou, Yogi, Joe, Micky, Derek, Bernie and countless others behind you. That and 26 championships.

I graduated RPI in the late 70s and enjoyed my time there. Was back there for the first time about 3-4 years ago. Several new buildings on campus. SHirly Jackson (the school pres) has done a great job raising money for building and research, with a number of cutting edge programs. Troy is still as sad as it was when I was in school there.

If your question is to help decide where to go to college, there's enough going on at RPI, Russell Sage, and SUNY Albany without needing any amenities (not that they exist, anyway) of the town, other than the supermarket, etc.

In the case of RPI vs. WPI, don't base the college decision on the towns. Base it on the schools.

I have family who went to RPI and family who went to WPI - if you are studying architecture or engineering, pick for the school that best matches you if there are reasons and not on the town - because from what I heard from them - they were both hitting the books fairly hard, and looong hours and lots in the library and studio rooms and their party time was with other students in their majors and /or frat brothers.

Troy kids made one, maybe two trips into NYC for a few days, same with the WPI kids to Boston-
neither was thrilled with the towns, but if that is what for some reason you want to choose by, there is more going on in or near Worcester, imo.