Living Cost Compare
Baltimore

Maryland

$1,300/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 $1,300 in Baltimore, MD versus $1,340 in Worcester, MA. Overall, Baltimore, MD is roughly 3% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Worcester, MA, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $59,623 in Baltimore, MD and $67,544 in Worcester, MA — about 12% higher in Worcester, MA. Maryland has a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax; Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Baltimore, MD
Worcester, MA

Rent

Studio
$1,050
$1,087
+4% in Worcester, MA
1 Bedroom
$1,073
$1,028
+4% in Baltimore, MD
2 Bedroom
$1,353
$1,476
+9% in Worcester, MA
3 Bedroom
$1,555
$1,675
+8% in Worcester, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$219,300
$339,500
+55% in Worcester, MA

Income

Median Household Income
$59,623
$67,544
+13% in Worcester, MA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$59,070
$57,830
+2% in Baltimore, MD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.1 yr
34.1 yr
+2.0 yr in Baltimore, MD
Homeownership
47.5%
42.4%
+5.1 pp in Baltimore, MD
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.4%
34.1%
+1.3 pp in Baltimore, MD
Avg Commute
29.4 min
25.1 min
+4.3 min in Baltimore, MD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,616.7
640.2
+60% in Baltimore, MD
Property Crime
4,202.6
1,580.3
+62% in Baltimore, MD

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
61.4°F
47.9°F
+13.5°F in Baltimore, MD
Annual Precipitation
42.4 in
48.1 in
+5.6 in in Worcester, MA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$4.07/gal
+3% in Worcester, MA

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Massachusetts.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
21.8
29.6
+36% in Worcester, MA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.57
$30.66
+36% in Worcester, MA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Worcester, MA
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.92
+10% in Worcester, MA
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Baltimore, MD
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.90
+7% in Worcester, MA
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.19
+15% in Worcester, MA
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in Worcester, MA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MD / MA)
6%
6.25%
+0.3 pp in MA
Income Tax (top rate)
6.50%
9.00%
+2.5 pp in MA

Baltimore vs Worcester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baltimore or Worcester?
Baltimore, MD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below Worcester, MA's $1,340, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baltimore than in Worcester?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Baltimore versus $41,000 in Worcester.
Which has lower taxes, Baltimore or Worcester?
Baltimore is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% 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).