Is Worcester expensive to live in?

Worcester is around the middle of the 158 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $1,028 per month ranks #86 of 158 and is about the same as the $1,043 median.

What is the average rent in Worcester?

Average rent in Worcester, MA runs a studio around $1,087, a one-bedroom around $1,028, a two-bedroom around $1,476, a three-bedroom around $1,675 per month (US Census ACS).

How much do you need to earn to live in Worcester?

To keep a one-bedroom rent of $1,028 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year. The median household income here is $67,544.

How much does it cost to live in Worcester per month?

A rough monthly baseline for one person in Worcester is about $1,340 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Cost of Living in Worcester, MA

Population 205,501 · Massachusetts

~$1,340/mo est.1BR $1,028Home $339,500

Photo: Francisco Galarza / Unsplash

Compare with:

The cost of living in Worcester, MA is driven mostly by housing. A one-bedroom apartment rents for around $1,028 a month — about the same as the $1,043 median across the 158 large US cities we track. Studios average $1,087 and two-bedrooms $1,476.

Median household income here is $67,544, about the same as the $67,696 median of the cities we track. Adding typical electricity and heating to one-bedroom rent, a rough monthly baseline for one person is about $1,340 before food and transport. Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Rent1BR $1,028

Studio

$1,087

1 Bedroom

$1,028

2 Bedroom

$1,476

3 Bedroom

$1,675

Buying a Home$339,500

Median Home Value

$339,500

Income$67,544

Median Household Income

$67,544

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$57,830

Household income: Census ACS, city. Metro median wage: BLS OEWS, all occupations, 2025 (metro area).

GroceriesNortheast

Milk (gal)

$4.31

Bread (lb)

$1.92

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

Average prices, Northeast (BLS, 2026-07-01). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

Utilities29.6¢/kWh

Electricity

29.6¢/kWh

Natural Gas

$30.66/MCF

Residential, state-level averages (EIA, 2026-06-01). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Gas$4.07/gal

Regular Gasoline (Massachusetts)

$4.07/gal

EIA weekly retail average, week of 2026-08-31.

State Taxes (MA)6.25% sales

State Sales Tax

6.25%

State Income Tax (top rate)

Up to 9.00%

State-level rates. Local sales taxes may add more. Income tax shown is the top marginal rate; most filers pay less.

Crime640.2 violent

Violent Crime (per 100k/yr)

640.2

Property Crime (per 100k/yr)

1,580.3

FBI Crime Data Explorer, Worcester Police Department (2024). Offenses per 100,000 residents per year. Agency reporting practices vary, so cross-city comparisons are approximate.

People & LifestyleAge 34.1 yrs

Median Age

34.1 yrs

Homeownership

42.4%

Bachelor's+ (25+)

34.1%

Avg Commute

25.1 min

Climate47.9°F

Avg Annual Temperature

47.9°F

Annual Precipitation

48.1 in

Worcester cost of living — FAQ

Is Worcester expensive to live in?: Worcester is around the middle of the 158 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $1,028 per month ranks #86 of 158 and is about the same as the $1,043 median.
What is the average rent in Worcester?: Average rent in Worcester, MA runs a studio around $1,087, a one-bedroom around $1,028, a two-bedroom around $1,476, a three-bedroom around $1,675 per month (US Census ACS).
How much do you need to earn to live in Worcester?: To keep a one-bedroom rent of $1,028 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year. The median household income here is $67,544.
How much does it cost to live in Worcester per month?: A rough monthly baseline for one person in Worcester is about $1,340 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Compare Worcester with nearby cities

Worcester vs Cambridge Worcester vs Providence Worcester vs Cranston Worcester vs Boston Worcester vs Nashua Worcester vs Warwick

Nearby cities

Cambridge, MA 36 mi Providence, RI 36 mi Cranston, RI 38 mi Boston, MA 39 mi Nashua, NH 39 mi Warwick, RI 44 mi

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981-2010 (climate); EIA (gas, utilities); BLS Average Price Data (groceries) & OEWS (metro wage); transit agencies (fares); FBI Crime Data Explorer (crime); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes). Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + utilities; not a full cost of living.