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 119, which is 1.2x 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 130.
The standard of living in Worcester ranks as #20 most affordable out of the 113 places we measured in Massachusetts. By definition, that implies Worcester ranks as the #93 most expensive place in the Bay State.
For more reading on life in Worcester, check out:
Worcester Cost Of Living Vs. Massachusetts
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Worcester. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Worcester is 112.
The Groceries index in Worcester is 120.
The Health index in Worcester is 127.
The Housing index in Worcester is 120.
The Transportation index in Worcester is 118.
The Utilities index in Worcester is 111.
| Living Expense | Worcester | Massachusetts | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 119 | 130 | 100 |
| Services | 112 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 120 | 115 | 100 |
| Health | 127 | 168 | 100 |
| Housing | 120 | 117 | 100 |
| Transportation | 118 | 115 | 100 |
| Utilities | 111 | 114 | 100 |
Worcester 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
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 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Worcester is $430,111.
The Median Rent in Worcester is $1,487.
The Median Income in Worcester is $70,102.
The Home Value To Income in Worcester is 6.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Worcester is 0.25x.
| Statistic | Worcester | Massachusetts | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $430,111 | $656,690 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,487 | $1,762 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $70,102 | $103,960 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 6.1x | 6.3x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.25x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
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
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 131, 1.1x Worcester.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marlborough, MA | 41,647 | 138 | 1.2x |
| Milford, MA | 27,731 | 126 | 1.1x |
| Hudson, MA | 15,719 | 131 | 1.1x |
| Clinton, MA | 7,658 | 119 | 1.0x |
| Whitinsville, MA | 7,115 | 122 | 1.0x |
| Northborough, MA | 6,392 | 140 | 1.2x |
| Oxford, MA | 5,671 | 118 | 1.0x |
| Spencer, MA | 5,661 | 115 | 1.0x |
