City comparison
Grand Rapids, MI vs Worcester, MA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Worcester, MA are 7.3% higher than in Grand Rapids, MI. Someone earning $100,000 in Grand Rapids, MI would need about $107,300 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 $1,278 in Grand Rapids, MI. On $100,000, that's 26% of take-home pay in Worcester, MA and 20% in Grand Rapids, MI.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $781 a year higher in Worcester, MA than in Grand Rapids, MI.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +13.3% moving from Grand Rapids, MI to Worcester, MA ($106,437 → $120,548), while prices change by +7.3%. Net effect of the transfer: +5.6% in real buying power.
- Grand Rapids, MI: price level 95.5 (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
| Grand Rapids, MI | Worcester, MA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 95.5 | 102.5 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $107,302 in Worcester | $93,195 in Grand Rapids |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,278/mo | $1,599/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,181 | $74,400 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,999 (MI) | $4,780 (MA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 20% | 26% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $47,570 | $57,830 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT |
Rent areas: Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI HUD Metro FMR Area and Worcester, MA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI and Worcester, MA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Grand Rapids | Worcester |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 86.6 | 113.0 |
| Goods | 93.7 | 97.0 |
| Utilities | 93.8 | 155.2 |
| Other services | 99.6 | 101.2 |
| Overall | 95.5 | 102.5 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Grand Rapids, MI → Worcester, MA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −6.8%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax +$781/yr.
46 Fair offer
Worcester, MA → Grand Rapids, MI
Same pay goes further
Buying power +7.3%; rent takes 20% of take-home; state tax −$781/yr.
92 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Grand Rapids, MI is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Worcester, MA is in Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT. The last column shows what a transfer from Grand Rapids, MI to Worcester, MA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Grand Rapids, MI | Worcester, MA | Real change, Grand Rapids → Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $69,905 | +5.6% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $84,579 | +5.6% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $101,375 | +5.6% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $120,548 | +5.6% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $142,452 | +5.6% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Grand Rapids, MI | Worcester, MA | Worcester pay in Grand Rapids dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,900 | $82,810 | $77,175 (+24.7%) |
| Software Developers | $107,520 | $146,950 | $136,950 (+27.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,270 | $94,070 | $87,668 (+14.9%) |
| Registered Nurses | $83,920 | $100,240 | $93,418 (+11.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.