What is the cost of living in Northborough, MA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Northborough has an overall cost of living index of 140, which is 1.4x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Massachusetts, Northborough has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Massachusetts's index of 130.
The standard of living in Northborough ranks as #58 most affordable out of the 113 places we measured in Massachusetts. By definition, that implies Northborough ranks as the #55 most expensive place in the Bay State.
For more reading on life in Northborough, check out:
Northborough Cost Of Living Vs. Massachusetts
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Northborough. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Northborough is 111.
The Groceries index in Northborough is 116.
The Health index in Northborough is 204.
The Housing index in Northborough is 118.
The Transportation index in Northborough is 117.
The Utilities index in Northborough is 118.
| Living Expense | Northborough | Massachusetts | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 140 | 130 | 100 |
| Services | 111 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 116 | 115 | 100 |
| Health | 204 | 168 | 100 |
| Housing | 118 | 117 | 100 |
| Transportation | 117 | 115 | 100 |
| Utilities | 118 | 114 | 100 |
Northborough Cost Of Living Compared To Massachusetts Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Massachusetts, check out:
- Most Expensive Cities In Massachusetts
- Most Affordable Cities In Massachusetts
- Average Rent In Massachusetts
Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Northborough, MA Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Massachusetts, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Northborough is $693,745.
The Median Rent in Northborough is $1,135.
The Median Income in Northborough is $133,839.
The Home Value To Income in Northborough is 5.2x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Northborough is 0.1x.
| Statistic | Northborough | Massachusetts | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $693,745 | $656,690 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,135 | $1,762 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $133,839 | $103,960 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.2x | 6.3x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.1x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Northborough, MA Costs By Category
Detailed Northborough Services costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Northborough | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.49 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $15.49 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $29.33 | $18 |
| Haircut | $43.72 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $65.56 | $45.56 |
Detailed Northborough Groceries costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Northborough | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.48 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.45 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.76 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.99 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.52 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.21 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.53 | $3.7 |
Detailed Northborough Health costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Northborough | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $123.17 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $157.89 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $149.22 | $113.29 |
Detailed Northborough Transportation costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Northborough | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.43 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $97.39 | $59.92 |
Detailed Northborough Utilities costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Northborough | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $302.72 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $187.85 | $192.25 |
Northborough SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Northborough
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Northborough. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Worcester, MA has a cost of living index of 119, 0.8x Northborough.
Marlborough, MA has a cost of living index of 138, 1.0x Northborough.
Wellesley, MA has a cost of living index of 239, 1.7x Northborough.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Northborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Worcester, MA | 207,055 | 119 | 0.8x |
| Marlborough, MA | 41,647 | 138 | 1.0x |
| Wellesley, MA | 30,347 | 239 | 1.7x |
| Hudson, MA | 15,719 | 131 | 0.9x |
| Maynard, MA | 10,712 | 135 | 1.0x |
| Clinton, MA | 7,658 | 119 | 0.8x |
| Medfield, MA | 6,849 | 168 | 1.2x |
| Cochituate, MA | 6,471 | 192 | 1.4x |
| West Concord, MA | 5,876 | 180 | 1.3x |
