Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas
A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,970 in Long Beach, CA versus $1,340 in Worcester, MA. Overall, Worcester, MA is roughly 32% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Long Beach, CA, driven mainly by rent.
Median household income is $83,969 in Long Beach, CA and $67,544 in Worcester, MA — about 20% higher in Long Beach, CA. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax.
Rent
Buying a Home
Income
People & Lifestyle
Crime (per 100k/yr)
FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.
Climate
Gas
Area: Los Angeles vs Massachusetts.
Public Transit
Adult base one-way fare — Long Beach Transit vs — (2026).
Utilities
Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.
Groceries
Average prices — West vs Northeast (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.
State Taxes
Long Beach vs Worcester — FAQ
- Is it cheaper to live in Long Beach or Worcester?
- Worcester, MA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,340 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 32% below Long Beach, CA's $1,970, mainly because of rent.
- How much more do you need to earn to live in Long Beach than in Worcester?
- To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $65,000 a year in Long Beach versus $41,000 in Worcester.
- Which has lower taxes, Long Beach or Worcester?
- Long Beach is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% 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).