Is it cheaper to live in Dallas or Worcester?

Worcester, MA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,340 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below Dallas, TX's $1,480, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Dallas than in Worcester?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $51,000 a year in Dallas versus $41,000 in Worcester.

Which has lower taxes, Dallas or Worcester?

Dallas is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Worcester under Massachusetts's (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Dallas vs Worcester Cost of Living 2026

Dallas

Texas

$1,480/mo est.

Worcester

Massachusetts

$1,340/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,480 in Dallas, TX versus $1,340 in Worcester, MA. Overall, Worcester, MA is roughly 9% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Dallas, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $67,760 in Dallas, TX and $67,544 in Worcester, MA. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Dallas, TX

Worcester, MA

Rent

Studio

$1,259

$1,087

+14% in Dallas, TX

1 Bedroom

$1,280

$1,028

+20% in Dallas, TX

2 Bedroom

$1,500

$1,476

+2% in Dallas, TX

3 Bedroom

$1,559

$1,675

+7% in Worcester, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$295,300

$339,500

+15% in Worcester, MA

Income

Median Household Income

$67,760

$67,544

+0% in Dallas, TX

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,440

$57,830

+12% in Worcester, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.4 yr

34.1 yr

+0.7 yr in Worcester, MA

Homeownership

42.4%

about equal

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.4%

34.1%

+3.3 pp in Dallas, TX

Avg Commute

26.0 min

25.1 min

+0.9 min in Dallas, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

661.9

640.2

+3% in Dallas, TX

Property Crime

3,412.9

1,580.3

+54% in Dallas, TX

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

67.2°F

47.9°F

+19.3°F in Dallas, TX

Annual Precipitation

37.6 in

48.1 in

+10.5 in in Worcester, MA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.58/gal

$4.07/gal

+14% in Worcester, MA

Area: Texas vs Massachusetts.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.50

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.9

29.6

+86% in Worcester, MA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$31.89

$30.66

+4% in Dallas, TX

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 Dallas, TX

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 (TX / MA)

6.25%

about equal

Income Tax (top rate)

None

9.00%

+9.0 pp in MA

Dallas vs Worcester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Dallas or Worcester?: Worcester, MA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,340 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below Dallas, TX's $1,480, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Dallas than in Worcester?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $51,000 a year in Dallas versus $41,000 in Worcester.
Which has lower taxes, Dallas or Worcester?: Dallas is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% 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).