City comparison
Austin, TX vs Worcester, MA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Worcester, MA are 4.5% higher than in Austin, TX. Someone earning $100,000 in Austin, TX would need about $104,500 in Worcester, MA to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,562 a month in Austin, TX and $1,599 in Worcester, MA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $4,780 a year higher in Worcester, MA than in Austin, TX.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +10.2% moving from Austin, TX to Worcester, MA ($109,428 → $120,548), while prices change by +4.5%. Net effect of the transfer: +5.4% in real buying power.
- Austin, TX: price level 98.1 (about average)
- Worcester, MA: price level 102.5 (pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Austin, TX | Worcester, MA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 98.1 | 102.5 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $104,545 in Worcester | $95,653 in Austin |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,562/mo | $1,599/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $74,400 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (TX) | $4,780 (MA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 24% | 26% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $56,950 | $57,830 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX | Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT |
Rent areas: Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX MSA and Worcester, MA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX and Worcester, MA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Austin | Worcester |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 120.4 | 113.0 |
| Goods | 93.8 | 97.0 |
| Utilities | 82.0 | 155.2 |
| Other services | 96.2 | 101.2 |
| Overall | 98.1 | 102.5 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Austin, TX → Worcester, MA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −4.3%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax +$4,780/yr.
54 Fair offer
Worcester, MA → Austin, TX
Same pay goes further
Buying power +4.5%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax −$4,780/yr.
83 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Austin, TX is in the Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX pay area; Worcester, MA is in Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT. The last column shows what a transfer from Austin, TX to Worcester, MA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Austin, TX | Worcester, MA | Real change, Austin → Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $63,457 | $69,905 | +5.4% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $76,777 | $84,579 | +5.4% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $92,023 | $101,375 | +5.4% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $109,428 | $120,548 | +5.4% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $129,311 | $142,452 | +5.4% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Austin, TX | Worcester, MA | Worcester pay in Austin dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,270 | $82,810 | $79,210 (+29.3%) |
| Software Developers | $134,120 | $146,950 | $140,562 (+4.8%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $83,120 | $94,070 | $89,980 (+8.3%) |
| Registered Nurses | $97,890 | $100,240 | $95,882 (−2.1%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.