Is it cheaper to live in Tacoma or Worcester?

Worcester, MA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,340 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Tacoma, WA's $1,500, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $53,000 a year in Tacoma versus $41,000 in Worcester.

Which has lower taxes, Tacoma or Worcester?

Tacoma is taxed under Washington's rules (no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax); Worcester under Massachusetts's (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Tacoma vs Worcester Cost of Living 2026

Tacoma

Washington

$1,500/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 $1,500 in Tacoma, WA versus $1,340 in Worcester, MA. Overall, Worcester, MA is roughly 11% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Tacoma, WA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $83,857 in Tacoma, WA and $67,544 in Worcester, MA — about 19% higher in Tacoma, WA. Washington has no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax; Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Tacoma, WA

Worcester, MA

Rent

Studio

$1,178

$1,087

+8% in Tacoma, WA

1 Bedroom

$1,332

$1,028

+23% in Tacoma, WA

2 Bedroom

$1,693

$1,476

+13% in Tacoma, WA

3 Bedroom

$2,094

$1,675

+20% in Tacoma, WA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$454,600

$339,500

+25% in Tacoma, WA

Income

Median Household Income

$83,857

$67,544

+19% in Tacoma, WA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$72,610

$57,830

+20% in Tacoma, WA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

37.3 yr

34.1 yr

+3.2 yr in Tacoma, WA

Homeownership

56.5%

42.4%

+14.1 pp in Tacoma, WA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.5%

34.1%

+0.6 pp in Worcester, MA

Avg Commute

29.0 min

25.1 min

+3.9 min in Tacoma, WA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,064.4

640.2

+40% in Tacoma, WA

Property Crime

5,695.2

1,580.3

+72% in Tacoma, WA

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

52.1°F

47.9°F

+4.2°F in Tacoma, WA

Annual Precipitation

43.0 in

48.1 in

+5.0 in in Worcester, MA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.26/gal

$4.07/gal

+23% in Tacoma, WA

Area: Washington vs Massachusetts.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.9

29.6

+99% in Worcester, MA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$21.34

$30.66

+44% in Worcester, MA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.31

+10% in Tacoma, WA

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.92

+6% in Tacoma, WA

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.90

+6% in Tacoma, WA

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.19

+9% in Worcester, MA

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.69

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WA / MA)

6.5%

6.25%

+0.3 pp in WA

Income Tax (top rate)

None

9.00%

+9.0 pp in MA

Tacoma vs Worcester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Tacoma or Worcester?: Worcester, MA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,340 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Tacoma, WA's $1,500, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Tacoma than in Worcester?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $53,000 a year in Tacoma versus $41,000 in Worcester.
Which has lower taxes, Tacoma or Worcester?: Tacoma is taxed under Washington's rules (no state income tax and a 6.5% 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).