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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
In plain English: the 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. And generally speaking, on a $75K salary, 0 cities (0%) meet this threshold. That's a tough market. We ran the numbers on 4 cities in Massachusetts using 2026…
#1 Ranked: Worcester — cost index 114, rent $2,150/mo, income $67,544
0 of 4 cities keep rent under 30% of $75K
0 of 4 cities keep rent under 30% of $75K gross income
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
In plain English: the 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. And generally speaking, on a $75K 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 (that's pre-tax, of course).
Real talk: Here's Worcester by the numbers — and there's a lot to like. Cost index: 114. Rent: $2,150/month. Income: $67,544/year. Home price: $423,326. Population: 207,621. The strongest category is Utilities at 105; the most expensive is Housing at 134. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are costing renters $3,060 more per year vs. the national median. Even in a down market, this kind of cost structure protects household budgets.
Frankly, Bottom line: Worcester leads this ranking for clear, data-backed reasons — but the "best" city depends on your priorities. And in practical terms, 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.
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Worcester | 9% | 6.25% | 1.04% | $50,960 |
2Lowell | 9% | 6.25% | 1.04% | $50,960 |
3Cambridge | 9% | 6.25% | 1.04% | $50,960 |
4Boston | 9% | 6.25% | 1.04% | $50,960 |
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $75K 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.
207,621 residents · Massachusetts
Worcester earns its position at #1 through a combination that's hard to replicate. And more often than not, the 114 cost index sits 2 points above the national baseline, and the $67,544 — which, honestly, is lower than you'd expect here — median income means purchasing power here is partially offset by higher costs. Homes list at $423,326 — $44,044 below the national median — a genuine ownership opportunity. On the cost side, Utilities leads the way at 105, while Housing trails at 134.
114,296 residents · Massachusetts
Dive into Lowell's numbers: cost index 118 (6 points above national average), rent $2,262/month, income $76,205, and a home price of $471,792. The city's cost profile isn't flat — Utilities is the cheapest category at 108, while Housing runs 144. With 114,296 residents, it balances mid-size city convenience with manageable costs.
118,214 residents · Massachusetts
Why Cambridge ranks #3: the numbers tell a clear story. And as a general rule, at 160 on the cost index, residents spend roughly 48% more than the typical American. Rent sits at $3,355/month — we had to double-check this one — while the median household pulls in $126,469/year. The Utilities category is particularly strong at 148, though Housing (251) lags behind. Home prices average $1,019,841 — $552,471 above the national median (and that gap widens if you factor in state taxes).
653,833 residents · Massachusetts
A closer look at Boston: the cost index of 151 breaks down to a Utilities index of 139 (strongest category) and a Housing index of 228 (weakest). Median rent is $3,510/month — 85% above the national median — while household income sits at $94,755, meaning locals spend about 44% of income on rent. That exceeds the recommended 30% threshold — affordability here depends on earning above the median.
Worcester ranks #1 in Massachusetts for this analysis with a cost index of 114 and median income of $67,544.
Yes. On a $75K salary in Worcester, rent would consume about 34% 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 $75K in Worcester is approximately $50,960/year ($4,247/month). After median rent of $2,150/month, you'd have roughly $25,160/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.