Is it cheaper to live in Frederick or Worcester?

Worcester, MA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,340 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 19% below Frederick, MD's $1,650, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $57,000 a year in Frederick versus $41,000 in Worcester.

Which has lower taxes, Frederick or Worcester?

Frederick 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).

Frederick vs Worcester Cost of Living 2026

Frederick

Maryland

$1,650/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 $1,650 in Frederick, MD versus $1,340 in Worcester, MA. Overall, Worcester, MA is roughly 19% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Frederick, MD, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $95,150 in Frederick, MD and $67,544 in Worcester, MA — about 29% higher in Frederick, MD. 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.

Frederick, MD

Worcester, MA

Rent

Studio

$1,658

$1,087

+34% in Frederick, MD

1 Bedroom

$1,418

$1,028

+28% in Frederick, MD

2 Bedroom

$1,661

$1,476

+11% in Frederick, MD

3 Bedroom

$1,863

$1,675

+10% in Frederick, MD

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$365,200

$339,500

+7% in Frederick, MD

Income

Median Household Income

$95,150

$67,544

+29% in Frederick, MD

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$71,060

$57,830

+19% in Frederick, MD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

37.1 yr

34.1 yr

+3.0 yr in Frederick, MD

Homeownership

59.2%

42.4%

+16.8 pp in Frederick, MD

Bachelor's+ (25+)

41.8%

34.1%

+7.7 pp in Frederick, MD

Avg Commute

30.1 min

25.1 min

+5.0 min in Frederick, MD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

406

640.2

+58% in Worcester, MA

Property Crime

1,696.3

1,580.3

+7% in Frederick, MD

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

52.1°F

47.9°F

+4.2°F in Frederick, MD

Annual Precipitation

—

48.1 in

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$4.07/gal

+3% in Worcester, MA

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Massachusetts.

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 Frederick, 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)

6.25%

+0.3 pp in MA

Income Tax (top rate)

6.50%

9.00%

+2.5 pp in MA

Frederick vs Worcester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Frederick or Worcester?: Worcester, MA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,340 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 19% below Frederick, MD's $1,650, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Frederick than in Worcester?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $57,000 a year in Frederick versus $41,000 in Worcester.
Which has lower taxes, Frederick or Worcester?: Frederick 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).