City comparison
Visalia, CA vs Worcester, MA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Worcester, MA are 2.7% higher than in Visalia, CA. Someone earning $100,000 in Visalia, CA would need about $102,700 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 $1,123 in Visalia, CA. On $100,000, that's 26% of take-home pay in Worcester, MA and 18% in Visalia, CA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $290 a year higher in Visalia, CA than in Worcester, MA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +12.7% moving from Visalia, CA to Worcester, MA ($106,973 → $120,548), while prices change by +2.7%. Net effect of the transfer: +9.7% in real buying power.
- Visalia, CA: price level 99.8 (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
| Visalia, CA | Worcester, MA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 99.8 | 102.5 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $102,703 in Worcester | $97,368 in Visalia |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,123/mo | $1,599/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,110 | $74,400 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $5,070 (CA) | $4,780 (MA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 26% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $45,130 | $57,830 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA | Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT |
Rent areas: Visalia, CA MSA and Worcester, MA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Visalia, CA and Worcester, MA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Visalia | Worcester |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 84.1 | 113.0 |
| Goods | 105.2 | 97.0 |
| Utilities | 156.4 | 155.2 |
| Other services | 100.3 | 101.2 |
| Overall | 99.8 | 102.5 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Visalia, CA → Worcester, MA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −2.6%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax −$290/yr.
59 Fair offer
Worcester, MA → Visalia, CA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +2.7%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$290/yr.
77 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Visalia, CA is in the Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA pay area; Worcester, MA is in Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT. The last column shows what a transfer from Visalia, CA to Worcester, MA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Visalia, CA | Worcester, MA | Real change, Visalia → Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,033 | $69,905 | +9.7% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,055 | $84,579 | +9.7% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,959 | $101,375 | +9.7% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,973 | $120,548 | +9.7% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $126,410 | $142,452 | +9.7% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Visalia, CA | Worcester, MA | Worcester pay in Visalia dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $98,430 | $82,810 | $80,631 (−18.1%) |
| Software Developers | $126,170 | $146,950 | $143,083 (+13.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,400 | $94,070 | $91,594 (+15.4%) |
| Registered Nurses | $125,180 | $100,240 | $97,602 (−22.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.