City comparison
Portland, ME vs Worcester, MA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Portland, ME (101.9) and Worcester, MA (102.5, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Portland, ME goes as far as $100,700 in Worcester, MA.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,658 a month in Portland, ME and $1,599 in Worcester, MA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $874 a year higher in Portland, ME than in Worcester, MA.
- Both cities are in the same federal pay area (Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT), so a GS-13 step 1 earns $120,548 in either. A transfer from Portland, ME to Worcester, MA changes real buying power by −0.6%, purely from prices.
- Portland, ME: price level 101.9 (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
| Portland, ME | Worcester, MA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 101.9 | 102.5 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $100,653 in Worcester | $99,351 in Portland |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,658/mo | $1,599/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $73,526 | $74,400 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $5,654 (ME) | $4,780 (MA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 27% | 26% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $56,960 | $57,830 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT | Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT |
Rent areas: Portland, ME HUD Metro FMR Area and Worcester, MA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Portland-South Portland, ME and Worcester, MA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Portland | Worcester |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 105.2 | 113.0 |
| Goods | 97.2 | 97.0 |
| Utilities | 134.6 | 155.2 |
| Other services | 103.2 | 101.2 |
| Overall | 101.9 | 102.5 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Portland, ME → Worcester, MA
Roughly even
Buying power −0.6%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax −$874/yr.
66 Fair offer
Worcester, MA → Portland, ME
Roughly even
Buying power +0.7%; rent takes 27% of take-home; state tax +$874/yr.
68 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Both metros are in the Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT locality pay area, so GS salaries are identical. The last column shows what a transfer from Portland, ME to Worcester, MA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Portland, ME | Worcester, MA | Real change, Portland → Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $69,905 | $69,905 | −0.6% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $84,579 | $84,579 | −0.6% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $101,375 | $101,375 | −0.6% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $120,548 | $120,548 | −0.6% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $142,452 | $142,452 | −0.6% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Portland, ME | Worcester, MA | Worcester pay in Portland dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $76,770 | $82,810 | $82,273 (+7.2%) |
| Software Developers | $128,710 | $146,950 | $145,997 (+13.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,790 | $94,070 | $93,460 (+17.1%) |
| Registered Nurses | $88,470 | $100,240 | $99,590 (+12.6%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.