Living Cost Compare
Wilmington

Delaware

$1,250/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 $1,250 in Wilmington, DE versus $1,340 in Worcester, MA. Overall, Wilmington, DE is roughly 7% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Worcester, MA, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $55,269 in Wilmington, DE and $67,544 in Worcester, MA — about 18% higher in Worcester, MA. Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax; Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Wilmington, DE
Worcester, MA

Rent

Studio
$1,103
$1,087
+1% in Wilmington, DE
1 Bedroom
$1,024
$1,028
+0% in Worcester, MA
2 Bedroom
$1,213
$1,476
+22% in Worcester, MA
3 Bedroom
$1,394
$1,675
+20% in Worcester, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$224,500
$339,500
+51% in Worcester, MA

Income

Median Household Income
$55,269
$67,544
+22% in Worcester, MA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$54,310
$57,830
+6% in Worcester, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
37.0 yr
34.1 yr
+2.9 yr in Wilmington, DE
Homeownership
46.0%
42.4%
+3.6 pp in Wilmington, DE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
33.1%
34.1%
+1.0 pp in Worcester, MA
Avg Commute
23.0 min
25.1 min
+2.1 min in Worcester, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,138.2
640.2
+44% in Wilmington, DE
Property Crime
3,182.4
1,580.3
+50% in Wilmington, DE

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
54.9°F
47.9°F
+7.0°F in Wilmington, DE
Annual Precipitation
43.1 in
48.1 in
+5.0 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)
19.3
29.6
+53% in Worcester, MA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.73
$30.66
+3% 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 Wilmington, DE
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 (DE / MA)
None
6.25%
+6.3 pp in MA
Income Tax (top rate)
6.60%
9.00%
+2.4 pp in MA

Wilmington vs Worcester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Wilmington or Worcester?
Wilmington, DE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,250 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below Worcester, MA's $1,340, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Wilmington than in Worcester?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Wilmington versus $41,000 in Worcester.
Which has lower taxes, Wilmington or Worcester?
Wilmington is taxed under Delaware's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no 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).