Is it cheaper to live in Madison or Worcester?

Worcester, MA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,340 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below Madison, WI's $1,420, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Madison versus $41,000 in Worcester.

Which has lower taxes, Madison or Worcester?

Madison is taxed under Wisconsin's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax); Worcester under Massachusetts's (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Madison vs Worcester Cost of Living 2026

Madison

Wisconsin

$1,420/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 $1,420 in Madison, WI versus $1,340 in Worcester, MA. Overall, Worcester, MA is roughly 6% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Madison, WI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $76,983 in Madison, WI and $67,544 in Worcester, MA — about 12% higher in Madison, WI. Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax; Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Madison, WI

Worcester, MA

Rent

Studio

$1,018

$1,087

+7% in Worcester, MA

1 Bedroom

$1,219

$1,028

+16% in Madison, WI

2 Bedroom

$1,432

$1,476

+3% in Worcester, MA

3 Bedroom

$1,766

$1,675

+5% in Madison, WI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$346,900

$339,500

+2% in Madison, WI

Income

Median Household Income

$76,983

$67,544

+12% in Madison, WI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$58,080

$57,830

+0% in Madison, WI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

31.8 yr

34.1 yr

+2.3 yr in Worcester, MA

Homeownership

46.6%

42.4%

+4.2 pp in Madison, WI

Bachelor's+ (25+)

59.2%

34.1%

+25.1 pp in Madison, WI

Avg Commute

19.4 min

25.1 min

+5.7 min in Worcester, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

259.5

640.2

+147% in Worcester, MA

Property Crime

1,884.5

1,580.3

+16% in Madison, WI

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

46.5°F

47.9°F

+1.4°F in Worcester, MA

Annual Precipitation

34.5 in

48.1 in

+13.6 in in Worcester, MA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$4.07/gal

+6% in Worcester, MA

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Massachusetts.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

19.6

29.6

+51% in Worcester, MA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$18.17

$30.66

+69% in Worcester, MA

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$1.92

+16% in Worcester, MA

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Madison, WI

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$6.90

+2% in Worcester, MA

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.19

+4% in Worcester, MA

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Worcester, MA

Average prices — Midwest vs Northeast (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WI / MA)

6.25%

+1.3 pp in MA

Income Tax (top rate)

7.65%

9.00%

+1.3 pp in MA

Madison vs Worcester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Madison or Worcester?: Worcester, MA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,340 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below Madison, WI's $1,420, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Madison than in Worcester?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Madison versus $41,000 in Worcester.
Which has lower taxes, Madison or Worcester?: Madison is taxed under Wisconsin's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% 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).