Is it cheaper to live in Rochester or Worcester?

Rochester, NY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,160 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below Worcester, MA's $1,340, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Rochester versus $41,000 in Worcester.

Which has lower taxes, Rochester or Worcester?

Rochester is taxed under New York's rules (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax); Worcester under Massachusetts's (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Rochester vs Worcester Cost of Living 2026

Rochester

New York

$1,160/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 $1,160 in Rochester, NY versus $1,340 in Worcester, MA. Overall, Rochester, NY is roughly 13% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Worcester, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $46,628 in Rochester, NY and $67,544 in Worcester, MA — about 31% higher in Worcester, MA. New York has a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax; Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Rochester, NY

Worcester, MA

Rent

Studio

$750

$1,087

+45% in Worcester, MA

1 Bedroom

$857

$1,028

+20% in Worcester, MA

2 Bedroom

$1,114

$1,476

+32% in Worcester, MA

3 Bedroom

$1,240

$1,675

+35% in Worcester, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$120,600

$339,500

+182% in Worcester, MA

Income

Median Household Income

$46,628

$67,544

+45% in Worcester, MA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,210

$57,830

+13% in Worcester, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.5 yr

34.1 yr

+0.6 yr in Worcester, MA

Homeownership

37.2%

42.4%

+5.2 pp in Worcester, MA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

29.9%

34.1%

+4.2 pp in Worcester, MA

Avg Commute

18.9 min

25.1 min

+6.2 min in Worcester, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

690

640.2

+7% in Rochester, NY

Property Crime

3,533.4

1,580.3

+55% in Rochester, NY

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

48.2°F

47.9°F

+0.3°F in Rochester, NY

Annual Precipitation

34.3 in

48.1 in

+13.8 in in Worcester, MA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.13/gal

$4.07/gal

+1% in Rochester, NY

Area: New York vs Massachusetts.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

29.5

29.6

+0% in Worcester, MA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$27.01

$30.66

+14% 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 (NY / MA)

6.25%

+2.3 pp in MA

Income Tax (top rate)

10.90%

9.00%

+1.9 pp in NY

Rochester vs Worcester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Rochester or Worcester?: Rochester, NY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,160 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below Worcester, MA's $1,340, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Rochester than in Worcester?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Rochester versus $41,000 in Worcester.
Which has lower taxes, Rochester or Worcester?: Rochester is taxed under New York's rules (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% 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).