Is it cheaper to live in Washington or Worcester?

Worcester, MA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,340 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 38% below Washington, DC's $2,150, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $75,000 a year in Washington versus $41,000 in Worcester.

Which has lower taxes, Washington or Worcester?

Washington is taxed under District of Columbia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% 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).

Washington vs Worcester Cost of Living 2026

Washington

District of Columbia

$2,150/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 $2,150 in Washington, DC versus $1,340 in Worcester, MA. Overall, Worcester, MA is roughly 38% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Washington, DC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $106,287 in Washington, DC and $67,544 in Worcester, MA — about 36% higher in Washington, DC. District of Columbia has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% state sales tax; Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Washington, DC

Worcester, MA

Rent

Studio

$1,763

$1,087

+38% in Washington, DC

1 Bedroom

$1,885

$1,028

+45% in Washington, DC

2 Bedroom

$1,949

$1,476

+24% in Washington, DC

3 Bedroom

$2,249

$1,675

+26% in Washington, DC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$724,600

$339,500

+53% in Washington, DC

Income

Median Household Income

$106,287

$67,544

+36% in Washington, DC

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$71,060

$57,830

+19% in Washington, DC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.9 yr

34.1 yr

+0.8 yr in Washington, DC

Homeownership

41.1%

42.4%

+1.3 pp in Worcester, MA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

63.6%

34.1%

+29.5 pp in Washington, DC

Avg Commute

30.3 min

25.1 min

+5.2 min in Washington, DC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

936.3

640.2

+32% in Washington, DC

Property Crime

3,627.9

1,580.3

+56% in Washington, DC

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

58.2°F

47.9°F

+10.3°F in Washington, DC

Annual Precipitation

39.7 in

48.1 in

+8.3 in in Worcester, MA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$4.07/gal

+3% in Worcester, MA

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Massachusetts.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.00

—

Adult base one-way fare — WMATA (Metrobus) vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

24.4

29.6

+21% in Worcester, MA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$27.28

$30.66

+12% in Worcester, MA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Worcester, MA

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.92

+10% in Worcester, MA

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Washington, DC

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.90

+7% in Worcester, MA

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.19

+15% in Worcester, MA

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Worcester, MA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (DC / MA)

6.25%

+0.3 pp in MA

Income Tax (top rate)

10.75%

9.00%

+1.8 pp in DC

Washington vs Worcester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Washington or Worcester?: Worcester, MA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,340 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 38% below Washington, DC's $2,150, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Washington than in Worcester?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $75,000 a year in Washington versus $41,000 in Worcester.
Which has lower taxes, Washington or Worcester?: Washington is taxed under District of Columbia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% 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).