Is it cheaper to live in Houston or Worcester?

Worcester, MA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,340 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Houston, TX's $1,360, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Houston versus $41,000 in Worcester.

Which has lower taxes, Houston or Worcester?

Houston 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).

Houston vs Worcester Cost of Living 2026

Houston

Texas

$1,360/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 $1,360 in Houston, TX versus $1,340 in Worcester, MA. Overall, Worcester, MA is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Houston, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $62,894 in Houston, TX and $67,544 in Worcester, MA — about 7% 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.

Houston, TX

Worcester, MA

Rent

Studio

$1,142

$1,087

+5% in Houston, TX

1 Bedroom

$1,156

$1,028

+11% in Houston, TX

2 Bedroom

$1,375

$1,476

+7% in Worcester, MA

3 Bedroom

$1,664

$1,675

+1% in Worcester, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$253,400

$339,500

+34% in Worcester, MA

Income

Median Household Income

$62,894

$67,544

+7% in Worcester, MA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,410

$57,830

+17% in Worcester, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.3 yr

34.1 yr

+0.2 yr in Houston, TX

Homeownership

42.0%

42.4%

+0.4 pp in Worcester, MA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

36.0%

34.1%

+1.9 pp in Houston, TX

Avg Commute

27.3 min

25.1 min

+2.2 min in Houston, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,153.8

640.2

+45% in Houston, TX

Property Crime

4,324.9

1,580.3

+63% in Houston, TX

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

70.3°F

47.9°F

+22.4°F in Houston, TX

Annual Precipitation

54.6 in

48.1 in

+6.6 in in Houston, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.52/gal

$4.07/gal

+16% in Worcester, MA

Area: Houston vs Massachusetts.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$1.25

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.9

29.6

+86% in Worcester, MA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$31.89

$30.66

+4% in Houston, 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 Houston, 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

Houston vs Worcester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Houston or Worcester?: Worcester, MA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,340 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Houston, TX's $1,360, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Houston than in Worcester?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Houston versus $41,000 in Worcester.
Which has lower taxes, Houston or Worcester?: Houston 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).