City comparison
Roanoke, 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 9.5% higher than in Roanoke, VA. Someone earning $100,000 in Roanoke, VA would need about $109,500 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 $1,053 in Roanoke, VA. On $100,000, that's 26% of take-home pay in Worcester, MA and 17% in Roanoke, 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 +13.3% moving from Roanoke, VA to Worcester, MA ($106,437 → $120,548), while prices change by +9.5%. Net effect of the transfer: +3.4% in real buying power.
- Roanoke, VA: price level 93.6 (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
| Roanoke, VA | Worcester, MA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 93.6 | 102.5 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $109,512 in Worcester | $91,314 in Roanoke |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,053/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 | 17% | 26% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $47,140 | $57,830 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT |
Rent areas: Roanoke, VA HUD Metro FMR Area and Worcester, MA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Roanoke, VA and Worcester, MA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Roanoke | Worcester |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 78.5 | 113.0 |
| Goods | 96.8 | 97.0 |
| Utilities | 88.9 | 155.2 |
| Other services | 98.6 | 101.2 |
| Overall | 93.6 | 102.5 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Roanoke, VA → Worcester, MA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −8.7%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax −$156/yr.
40 Weak offer
Worcester, MA → Roanoke, VA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +9.5%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax +$156/yr.
98 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Roanoke, VA 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 Roanoke, VA to Worcester, MA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Roanoke, VA | Worcester, MA | Real change, Roanoke → Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $69,905 | +3.4% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $84,579 | +3.4% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $101,375 | +3.4% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $120,548 | +3.4% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $142,452 | +3.4% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Roanoke, VA | Worcester, MA | Worcester pay in Roanoke dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $62,010 | $82,810 | $75,617 (+21.9%) |
| Software Developers | $121,110 | $146,950 | $134,186 (+10.8%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $77,240 | $94,070 | $85,899 (+11.2%) |
| Registered Nurses | $80,090 | $100,240 | $91,533 (+14.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.