Is it cheaper to live in Morgantown or Worcester?

Morgantown, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 29% below Worcester, MA's $1,340, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Morgantown versus $41,000 in Worcester.

Which has lower taxes, Morgantown or Worcester?

Morgantown is taxed under West Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% 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).

Morgantown vs Worcester Cost of Living 2026

Morgantown

West Virginia

$950/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 $950 in Morgantown, WV versus $1,340 in Worcester, MA. Overall, Morgantown, WV is roughly 29% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Worcester, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $42,245 in Morgantown, WV and $67,544 in Worcester, MA — about 37% higher in Worcester, MA. West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax; Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Morgantown, WV

Worcester, MA

Rent

Studio

$836

$1,087

+30% in Worcester, MA

1 Bedroom

$770

$1,028

+34% in Worcester, MA

2 Bedroom

$969

$1,476

+52% in Worcester, MA

3 Bedroom

$1,038

$1,675

+61% in Worcester, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$238,200

$339,500

+43% in Worcester, MA

Income

Median Household Income

$42,245

$67,544

+60% in Worcester, MA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$47,350

$57,830

+22% in Worcester, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

24.0 yr

34.1 yr

+10.1 yr in Worcester, MA

Homeownership

44.3%

42.4%

+1.9 pp in Morgantown, WV

Bachelor's+ (25+)

58.1%

34.1%

+24.0 pp in Morgantown, WV

Avg Commute

17.3 min

25.1 min

+7.8 min in Worcester, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

216.3

640.2

+196% in Worcester, MA

Property Crime

1,976.4

1,580.3

+20% in Morgantown, WV

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

53.0°F

47.9°F

+5.1°F in Morgantown, WV

Annual Precipitation

41.8 in

48.1 in

+6.2 in in Worcester, MA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$4.07/gal

+3% in Worcester, MA

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Massachusetts.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.4

29.6

+92% in Worcester, MA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$24.68

$30.66

+24% 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 Morgantown, WV

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 (WV / MA)

6.25%

+0.3 pp in MA

Income Tax (top rate)

4.82%

9.00%

+4.2 pp in MA

Morgantown vs Worcester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Morgantown or Worcester?: Morgantown, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 29% below Worcester, MA's $1,340, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Morgantown than in Worcester?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Morgantown versus $41,000 in Worcester.
Which has lower taxes, Morgantown or Worcester?: Morgantown is taxed under West Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% 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).