Worcester, MA Cost Of Living
Cost Of Living In Worcester, MA Summary
Cost of living in Worcester research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Worcester is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.
On a city-by-city basis in Massachusetts, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:
The cost of living index in Worcester is 115, with 100 being the average.
The cost of living index in Worcester is 1.1x higher than the national average.
Worcester ranks as the #21 cheapest in Massachusetts out of 112.
Worcester ranks as the #4,090 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.
The median home value in Worcester is $429,634.
The median income in Worcester is $67,544.
Table Of Contents
Worcester's Overall Cost Of Living
Higher Than The National Average
What is the cost of living in Worcester, MA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Worcester has an overall cost of living index of 115, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Massachusetts, Worcester has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Massachusetts's index of 134.
The standard of living in Worcester ranks as #21 most affordable out of the 112 places we measured in Massachusetts. By definition, that implies Worcester ranks as the #91 most expensive place in the Bay State.
For more reading on life in Worcester, check out:
In Massachusetts
In America
Worcester Cost Of Living Vs. Massachusetts
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Worcester. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Worcester is 113.
The Groceries index in Worcester is 102.
The Health index in Worcester is 106.
The Housing index in Worcester is 127.
The Transportation index in Worcester is 93.
The Utilities index in Worcester is 111.
| Living Expense | Worcester | Massachusetts | National Average | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 115 | 134 | 100 | |
| Services | 113 | 121 | 100 | |
| Groceries | 102 | 106 | 100 | |
| Health | 106 | 112 | 100 | |
| Housing | 127 | 164 | 100 | |
| Transportation | 93 | 120 | 100 | |
| Utilities | 111 | 136 | 100 | |
Worcester, 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 2019-2023. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Worcester is $429,634.
The Median Rent in Worcester is $1,415.
The Median Income in Worcester is $67,544.
The Home Value To Income in Worcester is 6.4x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Worcester is 0.25x.
| Statistic | Worcester | Massachusetts | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $429,634 | $649,115 | $303,400 |
| Median Rent | $1,415 | $1,687 | $1,348 |
| Median Income | $67,544 | $101,341 | $78,538 |
| Home Value To Income | 6.4x | 6.4x | 3.9x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.25x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Median Home Value
Median Rent
Median Income
Worcester, MA Costs By Category
Detailed Worcester Services Costs Vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Worcester | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.43 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $14.37 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $22.72 | $18 |
| Haircut | $31.5 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $49.92 | $45.56 |
Detailed Worcester Groceries Costs Vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Worcester | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.85 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.43 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.74 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.0 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $11.59 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.74 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.46 | $3.7 |
Detailed Worcester Health Costs Vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Worcester | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $104.45 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $169.83 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $130.28 | $113.29 |
Detailed Worcester Transportation Costs Vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Worcester | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.38 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $48.2 | $59.92 |
Detailed Worcester Utilities Costs Vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Worcester | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $230.62 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $195.18 | $192.25 |
Worcester SnackAbility
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Cost Of Living In Cities Around Worcester
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Worcester. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Marlborough, MA has a cost of living index of 138, 1.2x Worcester.
Milford, MA has a cost of living index of 126, 1.1x Worcester.
Hudson, MA has a cost of living index of 134, 1.2x Worcester.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marlborough, MA | 41,398 | 138 | 1.2x |
| Milford, MA | 27,919 | 126 | 1.1x |
| Hudson, MA | 15,610 | 134 | 1.2x |
| Whitinsville, MA | 7,250 | 122 | 1.1x |
| Clinton, MA | 6,908 | 123 | 1.1x |
| Northborough, MA | 6,720 | 145 | 1.3x |
| Oxford, MA | 5,572 | 112 | 1.0x |
| Spencer, MA | 5,520 | 113 | 1.0x |
