City comparison
Canton, OH vs Worcester, MA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Worcester, MA are 14.7% higher than in Canton, OH. Someone earning $100,000 in Canton, OH would need about $114,700 in Worcester, MA to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,599 a month in Worcester, MA versus $846 in Canton, OH. On $100,000, that's 26% of take-home pay in Worcester, MA and 13% in Canton, OH.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $2,812 a year higher in Worcester, MA than in Canton, OH.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +8.5% moving from Canton, OH to Worcester, MA ($111,138 → $120,548), while prices change by +14.7%. Net effect of the transfer: −5.4% in real buying power.
- Canton, OH: price level 89.4 (much cheaper)
- 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
| Canton, OH | Worcester, MA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 89.4 | 102.5 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $114,671 in Worcester | $87,206 in Canton |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $846/mo | $1,599/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $77,212 | $74,400 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $1,968 (OH) | $4,780 (MA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 13% | 26% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $45,810 | $57,830 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA | Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT |
Rent areas: Canton-Massillon, OH MSA and Worcester, MA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Canton-Massillon, OH and Worcester, MA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Canton | Worcester |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 58.1 | 113.0 |
| Goods | 93.6 | 97.0 |
| Utilities | 96.9 | 155.2 |
| Other services | 98.9 | 101.2 |
| Overall | 89.4 | 102.5 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Canton, OH → Worcester, MA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −12.8%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax +$2,812/yr.
36 Weak offer
Worcester, MA → Canton, OH
Same pay goes further
Buying power +14.7%; rent takes 13% of take-home; state tax −$2,812/yr.
100 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Canton, OH is in the Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA pay area; Worcester, MA is in Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT. The last column shows what a transfer from Canton, OH to Worcester, MA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Canton, OH | Worcester, MA | Real change, Canton → Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,448 | $69,905 | −5.4% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $77,977 | $84,579 | −5.4% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,461 | $101,375 | −5.4% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $111,138 | $120,548 | −5.4% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $131,331 | $142,452 | −5.4% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Canton, OH | Worcester, MA | Worcester pay in Canton dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $77,940 | $82,810 | $72,215 (−7.3%) |
| Software Developers | $105,500 | $146,950 | $128,149 (+21.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $72,170 | $94,070 | $82,034 (+13.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $79,610 | $100,240 | $87,415 (+9.8%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.