City comparison
Richmond, VA vs Worcester, MA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Worcester, MA are 4.8% higher than in Richmond, VA. Someone earning $100,000 in Richmond, VA would need about $104,800 in Worcester, MA to live the same way.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,599 a month in Worcester, MA versus $1,507 in Richmond, VA. On $100,000, that's 26% of take-home pay in Worcester, MA and 24% in Richmond, VA.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $4,936 a year in VA and $4,780 in MA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +8.4% moving from Richmond, VA to Worcester, MA ($111,183 → $120,548), while prices change by +4.8%. Net effect of the transfer: +3.5% in real buying power.
- Richmond, VA: price level 97.9 (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
| Richmond, VA | Worcester, MA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 97.9 | 102.5 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $104,767 in Worcester | $95,450 in Richmond |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,507/mo | $1,599/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,244 | $74,400 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,936 (VA) | $4,780 (MA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 24% | 26% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $51,460 | $57,830 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Richmond, VA | Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT |
Rent areas: Richmond, VA HUD Metro FMR Area and Worcester, MA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Richmond, VA and Worcester, MA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Richmond | Worcester |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 99.1 | 113.0 |
| Goods | 96.8 | 97.0 |
| Utilities | 89.2 | 155.2 |
| Other services | 98.6 | 101.2 |
| Overall | 97.9 | 102.5 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Richmond, VA → Worcester, MA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −4.6%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax −$156/yr.
53 Fair offer
Worcester, MA → Richmond, VA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +4.8%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$156/yr.
84 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Richmond, VA is in the Richmond, VA pay area; Worcester, MA is in Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT. The last column shows what a transfer from Richmond, VA to Worcester, MA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Richmond, VA | Worcester, MA | Real change, Richmond → Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,475 | $69,905 | +3.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $78,009 | $84,579 | +3.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,499 | $101,375 | +3.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $111,183 | $120,548 | +3.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $131,385 | $142,452 | +3.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Richmond, VA | Worcester, MA | Worcester pay in Richmond dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,290 | $82,810 | $79,042 (+29.0%) |
| Software Developers | $132,120 | $146,950 | $140,263 (+6.2%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $84,220 | $94,070 | $89,790 (+6.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $93,580 | $100,240 | $95,679 (+2.2%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.