Living Cost Compare
Newark

Delaware

$1,620/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 $1,620 in Newark, DE versus $1,340 in Worcester, MA. Overall, Worcester, MA is roughly 17% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Newark, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $71,373 in Newark, DE and $67,544 in Worcester, MA — about 5% higher in Newark, DE. Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax; Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Newark, DE
Worcester, MA

Rent

Studio
$1,649
$1,087
+34% in Newark, DE
1 Bedroom
$1,391
$1,028
+26% in Newark, DE
2 Bedroom
$1,513
$1,476
+2% in Newark, DE
3 Bedroom
$1,916
$1,675
+13% in Newark, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$357,600
$339,500
+5% in Newark, DE

Income

Median Household Income
$71,373
$67,544
+5% in Newark, DE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$54,310
$57,830
+6% in Worcester, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
22.0 yr
34.1 yr
+12.1 yr in Worcester, MA
Homeownership
50.3%
42.4%
+7.9 pp in Newark, DE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
57.5%
34.1%
+23.4 pp in Newark, DE
Avg Commute
19.6 min
25.1 min
+5.5 min in Worcester, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
326.3
640.2
+96% in Worcester, MA
Property Crime
2,024.6
1,580.3
+22% in Newark, DE

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
54.9°F
47.9°F
+7.0°F in Newark, DE
Annual Precipitation
43.1 in
48.1 in
+5.0 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)
19.3
29.6
+53% in Worcester, MA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.73
$30.66
+3% 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 Newark, DE
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 (DE / MA)
None
6.25%
+6.3 pp in MA
Income Tax (top rate)
6.60%
9.00%
+2.4 pp in MA

Newark vs Worcester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Newark or Worcester?
Worcester, MA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,340 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 17% below Newark, DE's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Newark than in Worcester?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $56,000 a year in Newark versus $41,000 in Worcester.
Which has lower taxes, Newark or Worcester?
Newark is taxed under Delaware's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no 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).