Cost of Living in Worcester, MA
Worcester, MA — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Worcester, MA to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Worcester, MA?
With a price level of 102.5 (U.S. average = 100), Worcester, MA is close to the national average. In detail, housing costs run 13% above average; everyday goods are 3% below average; utilities run 55% above average; other services such as healthcare and dining cost about the same as the national average. The biggest difference from the national average is in utilities.
Prices in Worcester, MA vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 102.5 | +2.5% |
| Housing | 113.0 | +13.0% |
| Goods | 97.0 | −3.0% |
| Utilities | 155.2 | +55.2% |
| Other services | 101.2 | +1.2% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Worcester, MA
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,493 | $59,720/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $1,558 | $62,320/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,997 | $79,880/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,534 | $101,360/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,846 | $113,840/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Worcester, MA
To keep the same standard of living as in an average-priced U.S. city, you would need to earn roughly:
| Salary in an average U.S. city | Equivalent in Worcester, MA | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $41,000 | $33,294 |
| $60,000 | $61,500 | $48,740 |
| $80,000 | $82,000 | $62,637 |
| $100,000 | $102,500 | $76,034 |
| $150,000 | $153,800 | $108,918 |
Scaled by the BEA price level (pre-tax). Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts 2026 taxes. For a tax-aware comparison with a specific city, use the calculator above.
A monthly budget on the median wage
A single worker earning Worcester, MA's median wage of $57,830 takes home about $3,831 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $1,558, which is 41% of take-home pay — well above the 30% guideline, so many workers here share housing or rent smaller units. That leaves about $2,273 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Worcester, MA
- Federal income tax$4,760
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,585
- Medicare (1.45%)$839
- Massachusetts income tax$2,672
- Take-home pay$45,975
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.00% state
Highest-paying jobs in Worcester, MA
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Pay and living costs in Massachusetts cities
Half of Massachusetts’s 3,637,650 workers earn less than $63,590 a year and half earn more; the middle 50% earn $44,730–$102,580 (BLS, May 2025). Prices vary a lot within the state: Boston, MA stretches a paycheck furthest, while Providence, RI is the costliest.
| Metro area | Median pay | Price level | 1-BR rent | Rent share | Left after rent / mo | Buying power* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston, MA | $66,620 | 108.3 | $2,276 | 52% | $2,106 | $48,571 |
| Providence, RI | $53,680 | 101.8 | $1,423 | 40% | $2,148 | $42,101 |
| Worcester, MA | $57,830 | 102.5 | $1,558 | 41% | $2,273 | $44,844 |
| Springfield, MA | $51,930 | 96.1 | $1,382 | 40% | $2,079 | $43,232 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | $56,360 | 98.4 | $1,846 | 49% | $1,893 | $45,620 |
| Amherst Town, MA | $57,030 | 100.2 | $1,580 | 42% | $2,201 | $45,262 |
| Pittsfield, MA | $51,860 | 95.1 | $1,281 | 37% | $2,175 | $43,611 |
*Yearly take-home pay (on each metro’s median wage, single filer) in U.S.-average dollars. Price level: BEA RPP 2024 (U.S. = 100). Rent: HUD FY2026 one-bedroom fair market rent.
Worcester, MA vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worcester, MA | 102.5 | $1,558 | $57,830 | 349,880 |
| Durham, NC | 97.6 | $1,456 | $60,720 | 344,020 |
| Little Rock, AR | 89.4 | $984 | $45,790 | 358,210 |
| North Port, FL | 102.4 | $1,686 | $47,440 | 339,940 |
| El Paso, TX | 89.9 | $1,012 | $39,510 | 339,120 |
| Bakersfield, CA | 100.9 | $1,140 | $47,470 | 338,230 |
| Harrisburg, PA | 98.7 | $1,212 | $49,610 | 335,010 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Worcester, MA expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Worcester, MA metro area are 102.5% of the U.S. average, with housing at 113.0%. It is the #51 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Worcester, MA?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $61,514 in Worcester, MA (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $57,830.
Can you afford Worcester, MA on the median wage?
A single worker on the $57,830 median wage takes home about $3,831 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $1,558 would take 41% of that.
How much is rent in Worcester, MA?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Worcester, MA are $1,493 for a studio, $1,558 for one bedroom, $1,997 for two bedrooms and $2,534 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
Top salaries by field in Worcester, MA
Management Occupations
- General and Operations Manager — $111,900
Business and Financial Operations Occupations
- Accountant and Auditor — $94,070
Community and Social Service Occupations
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $87,050
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $82,810
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $39,240
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $100,240
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Nursing Assistant — $45,710
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $40,870
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- Cooks, Restaurant — $44,250
- Waiter and Waitress — $36,840
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $34,610
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
Sales and Related Occupations
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products — $80,400
- Retail Salesperson — $36,220
- Cashier — $34,770
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers — $73,130
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks — $56,350
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive — $52,450
- Customer Service Representative — $47,540
- Medical Secretary and Administrative Assistant — $47,290
- Office Clerks, General — $46,940
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — $55,160
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $61,610
- Light Truck Driver — $46,750
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $44,080
- Stocker and Order Filler — $37,250