Is it cheaper to live in Paterson or Worcester?

Worcester, MA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,340 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below Paterson, NJ's $1,430, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Paterson versus $41,000 in Worcester.

Which has lower taxes, Paterson or Worcester?

Paterson is taxed under New Jersey's rules (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax); Worcester under Massachusetts's (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Paterson vs Worcester Cost of Living 2026

Paterson

New Jersey

$1,430/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 $1,430 in Paterson, NJ versus $1,340 in Worcester, MA. Overall, Worcester, MA is roughly 6% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Paterson, NJ, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $53,766 in Paterson, NJ and $67,544 in Worcester, MA — about 20% higher in Worcester, MA. New Jersey has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax; Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Paterson, NJ

Worcester, MA

Rent

Studio

$786

$1,087

+38% in Worcester, MA

1 Bedroom

$1,183

$1,028

+13% in Paterson, NJ

2 Bedroom

$1,468

$1,476

+1% in Worcester, MA

3 Bedroom

$1,729

$1,675

+3% in Paterson, NJ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$335,400

$339,500

+1% in Worcester, MA

Income

Median Household Income

$53,766

$67,544

+26% in Worcester, MA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$61,430

$57,830

+6% in Paterson, NJ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.3 yr

34.1 yr

+0.8 yr in Worcester, MA

Homeownership

26.2%

42.4%

+16.2 pp in Worcester, MA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

12.5%

34.1%

+21.6 pp in Worcester, MA

Avg Commute

23.1 min

25.1 min

+2.0 min in Worcester, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,010.1

640.2

+37% in Paterson, NJ

Property Crime

2,391.4

1,580.3

+34% in Paterson, NJ

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

52.2°F

47.9°F

+4.3°F in Paterson, NJ

Annual Precipitation

49.0 in

48.1 in

+1.0 in in Paterson, NJ

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$4.07/gal

+3% in Worcester, MA

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Massachusetts.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

24.9

29.6

+19% in Worcester, MA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$17.68

$30.66

+73% in Worcester, MA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.92

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NJ / MA)

6.625%

6.25%

+0.4 pp in NJ

Income Tax (top rate)

10.75%

9.00%

+1.8 pp in NJ

Paterson vs Worcester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Paterson or Worcester?: Worcester, MA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,340 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below Paterson, NJ's $1,430, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Paterson than in Worcester?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Paterson versus $41,000 in Worcester.
Which has lower taxes, Paterson or Worcester?: Paterson is taxed under New Jersey's rules (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% 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).