Living Cost Compare
Anaheim

California

$2,100/mo est.

vs
Worcester

Massachusetts

$1,340/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $2,100 in Anaheim, CA versus $1,340 in Worcester, MA. Overall, Worcester, MA is roughly 36% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Anaheim, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $90,583 in Anaheim, CA and $67,544 in Worcester, MA — about 25% higher in Anaheim, CA. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Anaheim, CA
Worcester, MA

Rent

Studio
$1,929
$1,087
+44% in Anaheim, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,764
$1,028
+42% in Anaheim, CA
2 Bedroom
$2,171
$1,476
+32% in Anaheim, CA
3 Bedroom
$2,653
$1,675
+37% in Anaheim, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$771,700
$339,500
+56% in Anaheim, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$90,583
$67,544
+25% in Anaheim, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$55,850
$57,830
+4% in Worcester, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.9 yr
34.1 yr
+1.8 yr in Anaheim, CA
Homeownership
45.9%
42.4%
+3.5 pp in Anaheim, CA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
28.8%
34.1%
+5.3 pp in Worcester, MA
Avg Commute
28.2 min
25.1 min
+3.1 min in Anaheim, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
597.7
640.2
+7% in Worcester, MA
Property Crime
2,234.9
1,580.3
+29% in Anaheim, CA

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
67.1°F
47.9°F
+19.2°F in Anaheim, CA
Annual Precipitation
13.4 in
48.1 in
+34.6 in in Worcester, MA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.53/gal
$4.07/gal
+26% in Anaheim, CA

Area: Los Angeles vs Massachusetts.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
—

Adult base one-way fare — OCTA vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
34.7
29.6
+15% in Anaheim, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.33
$30.66
+51% in Worcester, MA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.31
+10% in Anaheim, CA
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.92
+6% in Anaheim, CA
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.90
+6% in Anaheim, CA
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.19
+9% in Worcester, MA
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.69
about equal

Average prices — West vs Northeast (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CA / MA)
7.25%
6.25%
+1.0 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
9.00%
+4.3 pp in CA

Anaheim vs Worcester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Anaheim or Worcester?
Worcester, MA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,340 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 36% below Anaheim, CA's $2,100, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Anaheim than in Worcester?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $71,000 a year in Anaheim versus $41,000 in Worcester.
Which has lower taxes, Anaheim or Worcester?
Anaheim is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax); Worcester under Massachusetts's (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).