Is it cheaper to live in Rutland or Worcester?

Rutland, VT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,120 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below Worcester, MA's $1,340, mainly because of rent.

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

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

Which has lower taxes, Rutland or Worcester?

Rutland is taxed under Vermont's rules (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% 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).

Rutland vs Worcester Cost of Living 2026

Rutland

Vermont

$1,120/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 $1,120 in Rutland, VT versus $1,340 in Worcester, MA. Overall, Rutland, VT is roughly 16% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Worcester, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $55,000 in Rutland, VT and $67,544 in Worcester, MA — about 19% higher in Worcester, MA. Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax; Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Rutland, VT

Worcester, MA

Rent

Studio

$893

$1,087

+22% in Worcester, MA

1 Bedroom

$856

$1,028

+20% in Worcester, MA

2 Bedroom

$1,097

$1,476

+35% in Worcester, MA

3 Bedroom

$1,207

$1,675

+39% in Worcester, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$176,400

$339,500

+92% in Worcester, MA

Income

Median Household Income

$55,000

$67,544

+23% in Worcester, MA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

$57,830

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

48.5 yr

34.1 yr

+14.4 yr in Rutland, VT

Homeownership

52.7%

42.4%

+10.3 pp in Rutland, VT

Bachelor's+ (25+)

32.2%

34.1%

+1.9 pp in Worcester, MA

Avg Commute

14.7 min

25.1 min

+10.4 min in Worcester, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

487.8

640.2

+31% in Worcester, MA

Property Crime

3,973.3

1,580.3

+60% in Rutland, VT

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

44.6°F

47.9°F

+3.3°F in Worcester, MA

Annual Precipitation

40.5 in

48.1 in

+7.6 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)

24.4

29.6

+21% in Worcester, MA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$26.07

$30.66

+18% 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 (VT / MA)

6.25%

+0.3 pp in MA

Income Tax (top rate)

8.75%

9.00%

+0.3 pp in MA

Rutland vs Worcester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Rutland or Worcester?: Rutland, VT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,120 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below Worcester, MA's $1,340, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Rutland than in Worcester?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Rutland versus $41,000 in Worcester.
Which has lower taxes, Rutland or Worcester?: Rutland is taxed under Vermont's rules (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% 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).