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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. 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, a…
#1 Ranked: Worcester — cost index 126, rent $2,150/mo, income $67,544
79-point cost gap between #1 and #4
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
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. Honestly, this is the kind of city that makes you wonder why more people aren't paying attention. The numbers are right there — rent that doesn't eat your paycheck, costs that actually leave room for a life. And yet it barely shows up in the national conversation about affordable places to live. Maybe that's a good thing. Maybe that's what keeps it affordable.
Worcester comes in at #1. Rent is $2,150 a month. Household income is $67,544. The cost of living index is 126. It lines up with what you'd expect.
On a $100K salary, the key number is $2,500/month — that's 30% of gross, the standard affordability line. Worcester ($2,150/mo, 26%), Lowell ($2,262/mo, 27%), Cambridge ($3,355/mo, 40%) all clear that bar. After federal tax, FICA (7.65%), and state income tax, estimated take-home ranges from $66,297 to $66,297/year across these top picks. One to watch.
If you're ready to act on this, three things to do next: 1) Click into the city pages for the top 3 and check rent trends — direction matters more than the snapshot. 2) Run your income through the salary calculator for a personalized cost comparison. 3) Compare your top two picks head-to-head on our comparison page. Not the most exciting stat, but it matters. The data is here; the decision is yours.
Worcester (index 126) and Boston (index 205) sit 79 points apart on the cost index — proof that Massachusetts is far from monolithic in affordability.
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.
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
Here's Worcester by the numbers — and there's a lot to like. Cost index: 126. Rent: $2,150/month. Income: $67,544/year. Home price: $423,326. Population: 207,621. The strongest category is Healthcare at 105; the most expensive is Housing at 126. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are costing renters $3,060 more per year vs. the national median. For anyone running the numbers, this is where it clicks.
114,296 residents · Massachusetts
What does daily life actually cost in Lowell? Start with the 36% rent-to-income ratio — stretched, especially for single earners. That's more or less in line with the region. On the category level, Healthcare (index 106) is where the real savings show up, while Housing (index 132) 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. Solidly above average.
118,214 residents · Massachusetts
Why Cambridge ranks #3: the numbers tell a clear story. At 196 on the cost index, residents spend roughly 85% more than the typical American. Rent sits at $3,355/month while the median household pulls in $126,469/year. The Healthcare category is particularly strong at 119, though Housing (196) lags behind. Home prices average $1,019,841 — $552,471 above the national median.
653,833 residents · Massachusetts
At $3,510/month for rent and a cost index of 205, Boston is pretty much what you'd expect from a larger city in this part of the country. Standard stuff, really. Income is $94,755. Not the most exciting stat, but it matters.
| 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 |
Worcester ranks #1 in Massachusetts for this analysis with a cost index of 126 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 126 and rent of $2,150/mo, while Boston (ranked #4) has a cost index of 205 and rent of $3,510/mo — a 79-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.