Worcester is definitely urban. We stayed overnight twice / yr. for four straight years for athletic competitions. Worcester is a small city with an interesting history, and while it has a few redeeming qualities I would not score it as having the charm that you can find elsewhere in western MA. I do really like the Holy Cross campus. It’s quite nice. But we found Worcester to be kinda dead and lacking in good restaurant choices for a city of its size. This was an almost school for our soccer player, who almost chose it because it has somewhat of a LAC feel and D1 athletics. We also liked Conn - campus and location near the waterways - and are big, big fans of Saratoga Springs. We did not like the Brandeis campus or Waltham, but you’re in Boston so … Not as familiar with Fordham, which wasn’t on our list for whatever reason.
OP has some solid choices here.