Is it cheaper to live in Dover or Worcester?

Dover, DE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,270 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Worcester, MA's $1,340, mainly because of electricity costs.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Dover versus $41,000 in Worcester.

Which has lower taxes, Dover or Worcester?

Dover is taxed under Delaware's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax); Worcester under Massachusetts's (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Dover vs Worcester Cost of Living 2026

Dover

Delaware

$1,270/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 $1,270 in Dover, DE versus $1,340 in Worcester, MA. Overall, Dover, DE is roughly 5% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Worcester, MA, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $58,336 in Dover, DE and $67,544 in Worcester, MA — about 14% higher in Worcester, MA. Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax; Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Dover, DE

Worcester, MA

Rent

Studio

$993

$1,087

+9% in Worcester, MA

1 Bedroom

$1,047

$1,028

+2% in Dover, DE

2 Bedroom

$1,185

$1,476

+25% in Worcester, MA

3 Bedroom

$1,634

$1,675

+3% in Worcester, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$248,500

$339,500

+37% in Worcester, MA

Income

Median Household Income

$58,336

$67,544

+16% in Worcester, MA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$46,690

$57,830

+24% in Worcester, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.1 yr

34.1 yr

+1.0 yr in Dover, DE

Homeownership

47.0%

42.4%

+4.6 pp in Dover, DE

Bachelor's+ (25+)

27.1%

34.1%

+7.0 pp in Worcester, MA

Avg Commute

24.0 min

25.1 min

+1.1 min in Worcester, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,025.3

640.2

+38% in Dover, DE

Property Crime

6,159.1

1,580.3

+74% in Dover, DE

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

56.9°F

47.9°F

+9.0°F in Dover, DE

Annual Precipitation

46.0 in

48.1 in

+2.0 in in Worcester, MA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$4.07/gal

+3% in Worcester, MA

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Massachusetts.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

19.3

29.6

+53% in Worcester, MA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$29.73

$30.66

+3% 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 Dover, DE

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 (DE / MA)

None

6.25%

+6.3 pp in MA

Income Tax (top rate)

6.60%

9.00%

+2.4 pp in MA

Dover vs Worcester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Dover or Worcester?: Dover, DE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,270 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Worcester, MA's $1,340, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Dover than in Worcester?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Dover versus $41,000 in Worcester.
Which has lower taxes, Dover or Worcester?: Dover is taxed under Delaware's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no 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).