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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. And roughly speaking, that alone makes it worth considering. On a $30K salary, 0 cities (0%) meet this threshold. That's a tough market. We ran the numbers on 4 cities in Massa…
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. And roughly speaking, that alone makes it worth considering. On a $30K salary, 0 cities (0%) meet this threshold. That's a tough market. 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.
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.
It's worth mentioning — though it's outside our data model — that cities with these economics tend to attract remote workers, which can push prices up over time.
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.
#1 Ranked: Worcester — cost index 114, rent $2,150/mo, income $67,544
0 of 4 cities keep rent under 30% of $30K
0 of 4 cities keep rent under 30% of $30K gross income
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
207,621 residents · Massachusetts
The #1 spot goes to Worcester, and the breakdown explains why. Renters here pay $2,150/month — costing renters $3,060 more per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Utilities is the standout at index 105, keeping costs manageable. The weak spot? Housing at 134. The 38% rent-to-income ratio is a pressure point — for median earners, housing takes more than recommended.
114,296 residents · Massachusetts
Look, Here's Lowell by the numbers — and there's a lot to like. Cost index: 118. Rent: $2,262/month. Income: $76,205/year. Home price: $471,792. Population: 114,296. The strongest category is Utilities at 108; the most expensive is Housing at 144. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are costing renters $4,404 more per year vs. the national median. This alone could tip the scales.
118,214 residents · Massachusetts
Here's Cambridge by the numbers — and there's a lot to like. Cost index: 160. Rent: $3,355/month. Income: $126,469/year. Home price: $1,019,841. Population: 118,214. The strongest category is Utilities at 148; the most expensive is Housing at 251. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are costing renters $17,520 more per year vs. the national median. That's a margin of safety most budgets don't have.
653,833 residents · Massachusetts
Real talk: Dive into Boston's numbers: cost index 151 (39 points above national average), rent $3,510/month, income $94,755, and a home price of $768,702. The city's cost profile isn't flat — Utilities is the cheapest category at 139, while Housing runs 228. As a major city with 653,833 residents, amenities and job markets are robust.
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $30K salary, 0 cities (0%) meet this threshold. That's a tough market.
Rent ranges from $2,150/mo in Worcester to $3,510/mo in Boston — a monthly difference of $1,360, or $16,320 per year.
Rent in #1-ranked Worcester has increased from $2,097 to $2,150/mo over the past 12 months — a 3% increase. Rising costs may erode its top ranking over time.
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Worcester | 9% | 6.25% | 1.04% | $21,637 |
2Lowell | 9% | 6.25% | 1.04% | $21,637 |
3Cambridge | 9% | 6.25% | 1.04% | $21,637 |
4Boston | 9% | 6.25% | 1.04% | $21,637 |
We calculate what percentage of a $30K 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 $30K salary in Worcester, rent would consume about 86% of your gross monthly income. Financial experts recommend keeping rent under 30%. It's tight — consider a roommate or nearby suburb.
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 $30K in Worcester is approximately $21,637/year ($1,803/month). After median rent of $2,150/month, you'd have roughly $0/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.