Living Cost Compare
Portland

Maine

$1,650/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 $1,650 in Portland, ME versus $1,340 in Worcester, MA. Overall, Worcester, MA is roughly 19% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Portland, ME, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $76,174 in Portland, ME and $67,544 in Worcester, MA — about 11% higher in Portland, ME. Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Portland, ME
Worcester, MA

Rent

Studio
$1,038
$1,087
+5% in Worcester, MA
1 Bedroom
$1,331
$1,028
+23% in Portland, ME
2 Bedroom
$1,664
$1,476
+11% in Portland, ME
3 Bedroom
$1,919
$1,675
+13% in Portland, ME

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$452,600
$339,500
+25% in Portland, ME

Income

Median Household Income
$76,174
$67,544
+11% in Portland, ME
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$56,960
$57,830
+2% in Worcester, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
37.5 yr
34.1 yr
+3.4 yr in Portland, ME
Homeownership
46.7%
42.4%
+4.3 pp in Portland, ME
Bachelor's+ (25+)
59.2%
34.1%
+25.1 pp in Portland, ME
Avg Commute
19.9 min
25.1 min
+5.2 min in Worcester, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
272.7
640.2
+135% in Worcester, MA
Property Crime
2,513.3
1,580.3
+37% in Portland, ME

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
47.3 in
48.1 in
+0.8 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)
29.6
29.6
+0% in Worcester, MA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$31.62
$30.66
+3% in Portland, ME

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.92
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.90
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.69
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (ME / MA)
5.5%
6.25%
+0.8 pp in MA
Income Tax (top rate)
7.15%
9.00%
+1.8 pp in MA

Portland vs Worcester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Portland or Worcester?
Worcester, MA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,340 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 19% below Portland, ME's $1,650, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Portland than in Worcester?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $53,000 a year in Portland versus $41,000 in Worcester.
Which has lower taxes, Portland or Worcester?
Portland is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% 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).