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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
2 of 4 cities keep rent under 30% of $100K. The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $100K salary, 2 cities (50%) meet this threshold. There are options, but they require targeting (not adjusted for inflation, bu…
#1 Ranked: Worcester — cost index 114, rent $2,150/mo, income $67,544
2 of 4 cities keep rent under 30% of $100K
2 of 4 cities keep rent under 30% of $100K gross income
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Worcester | 9% | 6.25% | 1.04% | $66,297 |
2Lowell | 9% | 6.25% | 1.04% | $66,297 |
3Cambridge | 9% | 6.25% | 1.04% | $66,297 |
4Boston | 9% | 6.25% | 1.04% | $66,297 |
2 of 4 cities keep rent under 30% of $100K. The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $100K salary, 2 cities (50%) meet this threshold. There are options, but they require targeting (not adjusted for inflation, but still telling).
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $100K salary, 2 cities (50%) meet this threshold. There are options, but they require targeting. We ran the numbers on 4 cities in Massachusetts using 2026 census, rent, and salary data. Worcester comes out on top — here's the full ranking and analysis (which, to be fair, is a metric that favors smaller cities).
Why Worcester ranks #1: the numbers tell a clear story. At 114 on the cost index, residents spend roughly 2% more than the typical American. Rent sits at $2,150/month while the median household pulls in $67,544/year. The Utilities category is particularly strong at 105, though Housing (134) lags behind. Home prices average $423,326 — $44,044 below the national median (and that gap widens if you factor in state taxes).
Against the national baseline, though: Here's the state-level backdrop: Massachusetts averages a 136 cost index, $2,819/mo rent, and $91,243 income across 4 cities. That's $924 more than the national rent average. Boston's biotech boom and old-money pricing — and that context shapes every city in this ranking.
Bottom line: Worcester leads this ranking for clear, data-backed reasons — but the "best" city depends on your priorities. Click into any city below to see the full detail page with 12-month trend charts, profession-specific salary data, and a breakdown of all five cost categories. If you're seriously considering a move, use our salary calculator to model your specific income against these numbers.
207,621 residents · Massachusetts
Dive into Worcester's numbers: cost index 114 (2 points above national average), rent $2,150/month, income $67,544, and a home price of $423,326. The city's cost profile isn't flat — Utilities is the cheapest category at 105, while Housing runs 134. With 207,621 residents, it balances mid-size city convenience with manageable costs.
114,296 residents · Massachusetts
Look, What does daily life actually cost in Lowell? Start with the 36% rent-to-income ratio — stretched, especially for single earners. And broadly, on the category level, Utilities (index 108) is where the real savings show up, while Housing (index 144) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $76,205 and homes at $471,792 round out a profile that ranks #2 for clear reasons.
118,214 residents · Massachusetts
Cambridge is one of the cheaper options here. Rent is $3,355/month, which is lower than most cities in this ranking. The cost index is 160. Income sits at $126,469. It's fine. Not great, not bad (and that gap widens if you factor in state taxes).
653,833 residents · Massachusetts
Here's Boston by the numbers — and there's a lot to like. Cost index: 151. Rent: $3,510/month. Income: $94,755/year. Home price: $768,702. Population: 653,833. The strongest category is Utilities at 139; the most expensive is Housing at 228. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are costing renters $19,380 more per year vs. the national median. That's the kind of stat homebuyers should print out for their mortgage meetings.
We calculate what percentage of a $100K gross salary goes to median rent. Cities where rent consumes less of your paycheck rank higher. We also factor in estimated take-home pay after federal taxes, FICA (7.65%), and state income tax. All data is sourced from federal agencies and verified research institutions. Cost of living indices are normalized to 100 (national median) using Zillow rent as the primary signal, with sub-category adjustments derived from regional BLS price data. Rankings are updated monthly as new data is released.
Worcester ranks #1 in Massachusetts for this analysis with a cost index of 114 and median income of $67,544.
Yes. On a $100K salary in Worcester, rent would consume about 26% of your gross monthly income. Financial experts recommend keeping rent under 30%. You're well within that guideline.
Our cost of living index uses real Zillow rent data as the foundation, indexed to 100 (national median). Sub-categories (housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare) are derived from the overall index with regional adjustments. Data is updated monthly.
Worcester (ranked #1) has a cost index of 114 and rent of $2,150/mo, while Boston (ranked #4) has a cost index of 151 and rent of $3,510/mo — a 37-point difference in cost of living.
City data is refreshed monthly from Census Bureau population estimates, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary data, and Tax Foundation tax rates. Last updated: 2026.
The median 1-bedroom rent in Worcester is $2,150/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $255 above the national median of $1,895/month.
After federal taxes, FICA (7.65%), and 9% state income tax, estimated take-home on $100K in Worcester is approximately $66,297/year ($5,525/month). After median rent of $2,150/month, you'd have roughly $40,497/year for all other expenses.
The median home price in Worcester is $423,326, which is 6.3× the local median income. Most median-income households would stretch to buy at this ratio. The national median home price is $467,370.
Massachusetts has a 9% state income tax rate. Combined state and local sales tax averages 6.25%, and the effective property tax rate is 1.04%.
This ranking was generated using data current as of early 2026. Population and income data comes from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5-year estimates). Rent and home price data is from Zillow's monthly releases. Tax rates are from the Tax Foundation's 2025 edition. Rankings are refreshed monthly.