Wondering how far your dollar stretches in Cambridge compared to Worcester? Below we break down housing costs, rent, taxes, income, and quality of life using 2026 data so you can make an informed relocation or remote-work decision. Every number is computed from Census, BLS, and Zillow data specific to these two metro areas.
| Cambridge | Metric | Worcester | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 178 | Cost of Living Index | 116 | -34.8% |
| $925,000 | Median Home Price | $380,000 | -58.9% |
| $3,100 | Median Monthly Rent | $1,650 | -46.8% |
| $108,500 | Median Household Income | $71,400 | -34.2% |
| 1.1% | Property Tax Rate | 1.1% | -3.6% |
| 3.2% | Unemployment Rate | 3.6% | +12.5% |
| 26 min | Average Commute | 27 min | +3.8% |
| 31.2 | Median Age | 37 | +18.6% |
| 118,000 | Metro Population | 1,000,000 | +747.5% |
Data sourced from Census Bureau, BLS, Zillow, and ApartmentAdvisor (2024-2025). COL Index: 100 = national average.
Monthly mortgage assumes 6.5% interest, 30-year fixed, 20.0%down payment. PITI includes principal, interest, property tax, and homeowner's insurance.
Buying a home in Cambridge costs $5,795/month (PITI) compared to $2,368/month in Worcester — a difference of $3,427/month or $41,124/year. The price-to-income ratio is 8.5x in Cambridge versus 5.3x in Worcester, suggesting Worcester is relatively more affordable for homebuyers relative to local incomes. At a 15% savings rate, it takes 11.4 years to save a down payment in Cambridge compared to 7.1 years in Worcester.
Estimated on each city's median household income, single filer, standard deduction, 2025 rates.
| Tax Category | Cambridge | Worcester |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Income | $108,500 | $71,400 |
| State Income Tax | $5,205 | $3,350 |
| Federal Income Tax | $15,319 | $7,157 |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | $8,300 | $5,462 |
| Property Tax (on median home) | $10,175/yr | $4,028/yr |
| State Sales Tax Rate | 6.3% | 6.3% |
| Total Tax Burden | $28,824 (26.6%) | $15,969 (22.4%) |
| Take-Home Pay | $79,676 | $55,431 |
On median household income, total taxes (federal + state + FICA) come to $28,824 in Cambridge (26.6% effective) versus $15,969 in Worcester (22.4% effective). After taxes, take-home pay is $79,676 in Cambridge and $55,431 in Worcester. Property taxes add $10,175/year on the median Cambridge home versus $4,028/year in Worcester.
These figures adjust for cost of living using the formula: adjusted = salary × (COL_destination / COL_origin). If you earn $108,500 in Cambridge (COL 178) and relocate to Worcester (COL 116), you would need $70,708 to maintain the same purchasing power. This means you can take a pay cut of $37,792 and still maintain your lifestyle in Worcester.
Beyond costs, quality of life matters. The average commute in Cambridge is 26 minutes versus 27 minutes in Worcester, a difference of 1 minutes each way. Cambridge's lower unemployment rate of 3.2% versus 3.6% suggests a stronger job market. Worcester skews slightly older with a median age of 37 vs 31.2 in Cambridge.
Cambridge is 34.8% more expensive than Worcester overall. Cambridge has a cost of living index of 178 compared to 116 for Worcester (national average = 100). The biggest difference is housing: the median home costs $925,000 in Cambridge vs $380,000 in Worcester.
The median home price in Cambridge is $925,000, which is $545,000 more than Worcester's median of $380,000. Monthly rent follows a similar pattern: $3,100/month in Cambridge vs $1,650/month in Worcester, a difference of $1,450/month or $17,400/year.
To maintain the same standard of living, a $108,500 salary in Cambridge is equivalent to $70,708 in Worcester. This is based on the cost of living index ratio: Cambridge's COL index of 178 vs Worcester's 116. Conversely, $71,400 in Worcester equals $109,562 in Cambridge.
On a median household income, the combined federal, state, and FICA tax burden is $28,824 (26.6% effective rate) in Cambridge vs $15,969 (22.4% effective rate) in Worcester. Property taxes on the median home are $10,175/year in Cambridge (1.1% rate) vs $4,028/year in Worcester (1.1% rate). Sales tax rates are 6.3% in Massachusetts and 6.3% in Massachusetts.
Cambridge median household income: $108,500/yr. Worcester median household income: $71,400/yr (Census ACS).
Median monthly rent: $3,100 in Cambridge vs $1,650 in Worcester. Annualized that is $37,200 vs $19,800.
Worcester offers a lower cost of living (index 116 vs 178), which lets remote-workers keeping a coastal salary stretch further. Cambridge typically wins on amenities and labor-market depth.
Cambridge and Worcester numbers are pulled from Zillow ZHVI/ZORI (home values, rent), the U.S. Census Bureau ACS (income, demographics), and BEA RPP (cost-of-living index). Each value is timestamped on the page.
Source feeds (Zillow, Freddie Mac PMMS, Census ACS, BEA RPP) are refreshed on their native cadence. Page caches revalidate every 24 hours via Next.js ISR.
No. The Cambridge vs Worcester cost-of-living page is educational reference using public data and standard formulas. It is not personalized tax, legal, or investment advice. Consult a licensed professional for material decisions.
Home prices use Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI)[1]; rents use Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI)[1]. Median household income comes from the Census ACS 5-year estimates[2].
COL indices use the BEA Regional Price Parity methodology[3], normalized so 100 = national average.
Property tax rates are effective rates from the Tax Foundation[4], expressed as % of owner-occupied home value. Mortgage estimates assume 6.5% fixed rate[5], 30-year term, 20.0% down, $1,800/yr homeowners insurance.
Federal tax calculations[6] assume single filer, standard deduction. State tax uses the top marginal rate times taxable income after the state standard deduction. FICA = 6.2% Social Security (up to wage base) + 1.45% Medicare.
Salary equivalence uses adjusted = salary × (COL_destination / COL_origin). This captures cost-of-living shift but not state income tax differences.
Unemployment figures are the most recent monthly MSA-level readings from the BLS LAUS series[7].
Last reviewed is computed from the maximum retrievedAt across every source this page consumes.
City data from Census Bureau[2], BLS[7], and Zillow[1] (2024-2025). Tax calculations use 2025 IRS rates[6], single filer, standard deduction. Mortgage estimates assume 6.5% PMMS rate[5], 30-year term, 20.0% down. COL Index: 100 = national average[3]. Last reviewed .