City comparison
Ocala, FL vs Worcester, MA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent, state taxes and federal GS pay.
Key findings
- Prices in Worcester, MA are 7.7% higher than in Ocala, FL. Someone earning $100,000 in Ocala, FL would need about $107,700 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 $1,172 in Ocala, FL. On $100,000, that's 26% of take-home pay in Worcester, MA and 18% in Ocala, FL.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $4,780 a year higher in Worcester, MA than in Ocala, FL.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +13.3% moving from Ocala, FL to Worcester, MA ($106,437 → $120,548), while prices change by +7.7%. Net effect of the transfer: +5.2% in real buying power.
- Ocala, FL: price level 95.2 (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
| Ocala, FL | Worcester, MA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 95.2 | 102.5 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $107,654 in Worcester | $92,890 in Ocala |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,172/mo | $1,599/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $74,400 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (FL) | $4,780 (MA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 26% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $43,990 | $57,830 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT |
Rent areas: Ocala, FL MSA and Worcester, MA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Ocala, FL and Worcester, MA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Ocala | Worcester |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 86.2 | 113.0 |
| Goods | 96.2 | 97.0 |
| Utilities | 87.1 | 155.2 |
| Other services | 98.9 | 101.2 |
| Overall | 95.2 | 102.5 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Ocala, FL → Worcester, MA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −7.1%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax +$4,780/yr.
45 Fair offer
Worcester, MA → Ocala, FL
Same pay goes further
Buying power +7.7%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax −$4,780/yr.
93 Strong offer
Federal employees: GS pay
Ocala, FL 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 Ocala, FL to Worcester, MA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Ocala, FL | Worcester, MA | Real change, Ocala → Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $69,905 | +5.2% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $84,579 | +5.2% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $101,375 | +5.2% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $120,548 | +5.2% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $142,452 | +5.2% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Ocala, FL | Worcester, MA | Worcester pay in Ocala dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Information Security Analysts | not published | $128,630 | — |
| Software Developers | $112,780 | $146,950 | $136,502 (+21.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $74,370 | $94,070 | $87,382 (+17.5%) |
| Registered Nurses | $79,230 | $100,240 | $93,113 (+17.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.