Living Cost Compare
El Paso

Texas

$1,020/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 $1,020 in El Paso, TX versus $1,340 in Worcester, MA. Overall, El Paso, TX is roughly 24% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Worcester, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $58,734 in El Paso, TX and $67,544 in Worcester, MA — about 13% higher 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.

El Paso, TX
Worcester, MA

Rent

Studio
$707
$1,087
+54% in Worcester, MA
1 Bedroom
$816
$1,028
+26% in Worcester, MA
2 Bedroom
$993
$1,476
+49% in Worcester, MA
3 Bedroom
$1,252
$1,675
+34% in Worcester, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$171,700
$339,500
+98% in Worcester, MA

Income

Median Household Income
$58,734
$67,544
+15% in Worcester, MA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$39,510
$57,830
+46% in Worcester, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.1 yr
34.1 yr
about equal
Homeownership
60.2%
42.4%
+17.8 pp in El Paso, TX
Bachelor's+ (25+)
27.5%
34.1%
+6.6 pp in Worcester, MA
Avg Commute
23.7 min
25.1 min
+1.4 min in Worcester, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
319.7
640.2
+100% in Worcester, MA
Property Crime
1,509.3
1,580.3
+5% in Worcester, MA

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
64.6°F
47.9°F
+16.7°F in El Paso, TX
Annual Precipitation
9.7 in
48.1 in
+38.4 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)
$1.50
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.9
29.6
+86% in Worcester, MA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$31.89
$30.66
+4% in El Paso, 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 El Paso, 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%
6.25%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
None
9.00%
+9.0 pp in MA

El Paso vs Worcester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in El Paso or Worcester?
El Paso, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 24% below Worcester, MA's $1,340, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in El Paso than in Worcester?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in El Paso versus $41,000 in Worcester.
Which has lower taxes, El Paso or Worcester?
El Paso 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).