Is it cheaper to live in Louisville or Worcester?

Louisville, KY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below Worcester, MA's $1,340, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Louisville versus $41,000 in Worcester.

Which has lower taxes, Louisville or Worcester?

Louisville is taxed under Kentucky's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.50% 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).

Louisville vs Worcester Cost of Living 2026

Louisville

Kentucky

$1,070/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 $1,070 in Louisville, KY versus $1,340 in Worcester, MA. Overall, Louisville, KY is roughly 20% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Worcester, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $64,731 in Louisville, KY and $67,544 in Worcester, MA — about 4% higher in Worcester, MA. Kentucky has a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax; Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Louisville, KY

Worcester, MA

Rent

Studio

$786

$1,087

+38% in Worcester, MA

1 Bedroom

$877

$1,028

+17% in Worcester, MA

2 Bedroom

$1,096

$1,476

+35% in Worcester, MA

3 Bedroom

$1,299

$1,675

+29% in Worcester, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$221,500

$339,500

+53% in Worcester, MA

Income

Median Household Income

$64,731

$67,544

+4% in Worcester, MA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$48,370

$57,830

+20% in Worcester, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

37.7 yr

34.1 yr

+3.6 yr in Louisville, KY

Homeownership

60.6%

42.4%

+18.2 pp in Louisville, KY

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.4%

34.1%

+0.7 pp in Worcester, MA

Avg Commute

22.7 min

25.1 min

+2.4 min in Worcester, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

763.4

640.2

+16% in Louisville, KY

Property Crime

3,536.6

1,580.3

+55% in Louisville, KY

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

58.2°F

47.9°F

+10.3°F in Louisville, KY

Annual Precipitation

44.9 in

48.1 in

+3.2 in in Worcester, MA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$4.07/gal

+6% in Worcester, MA

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Massachusetts.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$1.75

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.3

29.6

+108% in Worcester, MA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$33.20

$30.66

+8% in Louisville, KY

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 Louisville, KY

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 (KY / MA)

6.25%

+0.3 pp in MA

Income Tax (top rate)

3.50%

9.00%

+5.5 pp in MA

Louisville vs Worcester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Louisville or Worcester?: Louisville, KY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below Worcester, MA's $1,340, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Louisville than in Worcester?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Louisville versus $41,000 in Worcester.
Which has lower taxes, Louisville or Worcester?: Louisville is taxed under Kentucky's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.50% 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).