Living Cost Compare
Huntsville

Alabama

$1,090/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 $1,090 in Huntsville, AL versus $1,340 in Worcester, MA. Overall, Huntsville, AL is roughly 19% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Worcester, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $70,778 in Huntsville, AL and $67,544 in Worcester, MA — about 5% higher in Huntsville, AL. Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax; Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Huntsville, AL
Worcester, MA

Rent

Studio
$815
$1,087
+33% in Worcester, MA
1 Bedroom
$900
$1,028
+14% in Worcester, MA
2 Bedroom
$1,080
$1,476
+37% in Worcester, MA
3 Bedroom
$1,251
$1,675
+34% in Worcester, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$263,100
$339,500
+29% in Worcester, MA

Income

Median Household Income
$70,778
$67,544
+5% in Huntsville, AL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,740
$57,830
+12% in Worcester, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.4 yr
34.1 yr
+2.3 yr in Huntsville, AL
Homeownership
58.1%
42.4%
+15.7 pp in Huntsville, AL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
46.2%
34.1%
+12.1 pp in Huntsville, AL
Avg Commute
19.3 min
25.1 min
+5.8 min in Worcester, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
483.2
640.2
+32% in Worcester, MA
Property Crime
2,395.7
1,580.3
+34% in Huntsville, AL

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
62.1°F
47.9°F
+14.2°F in Huntsville, AL
Annual Precipitation
54.3 in
48.1 in
+6.3 in in Huntsville, AL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$4.07/gal
+12% in Worcester, MA

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Massachusetts.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.4
29.6
+81% in Worcester, MA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.06
$30.66
+27% 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 Huntsville, AL
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 (AL / MA)
4%
6.25%
+2.3 pp in MA
Income Tax (top rate)
5.00%
9.00%
+4.0 pp in MA

Huntsville vs Worcester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Huntsville or Worcester?
Huntsville, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,090 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 19% below Worcester, MA's $1,340, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Huntsville than in Worcester?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Huntsville versus $41,000 in Worcester.
Which has lower taxes, Huntsville or Worcester?
Huntsville is taxed under Alabama's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% 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).