Is it cheaper to live in Jackson or Worcester?

Jackson, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,000 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 25% below Worcester, MA's $1,340, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Jackson versus $41,000 in Worcester.

Which has lower taxes, Jackson or Worcester?

Jackson is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); Worcester under Massachusetts's (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Jackson vs Worcester Cost of Living 2026

Jackson

Mississippi

$1,000/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 $1,000 in Jackson, MS versus $1,340 in Worcester, MA. Overall, Jackson, MS is roughly 25% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Worcester, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $43,238 in Jackson, MS and $67,544 in Worcester, MA — about 36% higher in Worcester, MA. Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax; Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Jackson, MS

Worcester, MA

Rent

Studio

$1,085

$1,087

+0% in Worcester, MA

1 Bedroom

$816

$1,028

+26% in Worcester, MA

2 Bedroom

$991

$1,476

+49% in Worcester, MA

3 Bedroom

$1,121

$1,675

+49% in Worcester, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$108,200

$339,500

+214% in Worcester, MA

Income

Median Household Income

$43,238

$67,544

+56% in Worcester, MA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$42,850

$57,830

+35% in Worcester, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.7 yr

34.1 yr

+0.6 yr in Jackson, MS

Homeownership

48.6%

42.4%

+6.2 pp in Jackson, MS

Bachelor's+ (25+)

28.6%

34.1%

+5.5 pp in Worcester, MA

Avg Commute

20.2 min

25.1 min

+4.9 min in Worcester, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

—

640.2

Property Crime

—

1,580.3

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

65.3°F

47.9°F

+17.4°F in Jackson, MS

Annual Precipitation

54.3 in

48.1 in

+6.3 in in Jackson, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$4.07/gal

+12% in Worcester, MA

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Massachusetts.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.9

29.6

+99% in Worcester, MA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$29.04

$30.66

+6% 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 Jackson, MS

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 (MS / MA)

6.25%

+0.8 pp in MS

Income Tax (top rate)

4.00%

9.00%

+5.0 pp in MA

Jackson vs Worcester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Jackson or Worcester?: Jackson, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,000 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 25% below Worcester, MA's $1,340, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Jackson than in Worcester?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Jackson versus $41,000 in Worcester.
Which has lower taxes, Jackson or Worcester?: Jackson is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% 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).