Living Cost Compare
Jacksonville

Florida

$1,320/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 $1,320 in Jacksonville, FL versus $1,340 in Worcester, MA. Overall, Jacksonville, FL is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Worcester, MA, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $66,981 in Jacksonville, FL and $67,544 in Worcester, MA — about 1% higher in Worcester, MA. Florida has no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax; Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Jacksonville, FL
Worcester, MA

Rent

Studio
$1,127
$1,087
+4% in Jacksonville, FL
1 Bedroom
$1,146
$1,028
+10% in Jacksonville, FL
2 Bedroom
$1,385
$1,476
+7% in Worcester, MA
3 Bedroom
$1,545
$1,675
+8% in Worcester, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$266,100
$339,500
+28% in Worcester, MA

Income

Median Household Income
$66,981
$67,544
+1% in Worcester, MA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,830
$57,830
+18% in Worcester, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.4 yr
34.1 yr
+2.3 yr in Jacksonville, FL
Homeownership
57.4%
42.4%
+15.0 pp in Jacksonville, FL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
31.8%
34.1%
+2.3 pp in Worcester, MA
Avg Commute
24.1 min
25.1 min
+1.0 min in Worcester, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
558.4
640.2
+15% in Worcester, MA
Property Crime
2,600.1
1,580.3
+39% in Jacksonville, FL

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
70.2°F
47.9°F
+22.3°F in Jacksonville, FL
Annual Precipitation
49.2 in
48.1 in
+1.1 in in Jacksonville, FL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.83/gal
$4.07/gal
+6% in Worcester, MA

Area: Florida vs Massachusetts.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.1
29.6
+96% in Worcester, MA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$23.62
$30.66
+30% 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 Jacksonville, FL
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 (FL / MA)
6%
6.25%
+0.3 pp in MA
Income Tax (top rate)
None
9.00%
+9.0 pp in MA

Jacksonville vs Worcester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Jacksonville or Worcester?
Jacksonville, FL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,320 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Worcester, MA's $1,340, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Jacksonville than in Worcester?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Jacksonville versus $41,000 in Worcester.
Which has lower taxes, Jacksonville or Worcester?
Jacksonville is taxed under Florida's rules (no state income tax 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).