City comparison
Washington, DC vs Worcester, MA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Washington, DC are 6.2% higher than in Worcester, MA. Someone earning $100,000 in Worcester, MA would need about $106,200 in Washington, DC to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $2,015 a month in Washington, DC versus $1,599 in Worcester, MA. On $100,000, that's 33% of take-home pay in Washington, DC and 26% in Worcester, MA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $752 a year higher in Washington, DC than in Worcester, MA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −1.0% moving from Washington, DC to Worcester, MA ($121,785 → $120,548), while prices change by −5.8%. Net effect of the transfer: +5.1% in real buying power.
- Washington, DC: price level 108.9 (much pricier)
- 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
| Washington, DC | Worcester, MA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 108.9 | 102.5 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $94,158 in Worcester | $106,204 in Washington |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $2,015/mo | $1,599/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $73,649 | $74,400 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $5,532 (DC) | $4,780 (MA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 33% | 26% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $71,060 | $57,830 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA | Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT |
Rent areas: Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area and Worcester, MA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV and Worcester, MA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Washington | Worcester |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 151.1 | 113.0 |
| Goods | 104.8 | 97.0 |
| Utilities | 106.7 | 155.2 |
| Other services | 102.3 | 101.2 |
| Overall | 108.9 | 102.5 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Washington, DC → Worcester, MA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +6.2%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax −$752/yr.
87 Strong offer
Worcester, MA → Washington, DC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −5.8%; rent takes 33% of take-home; state tax +$752/yr.
39 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Washington, DC is in the Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA pay area; Worcester, MA is in Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT. The last column shows what a transfer from Washington, DC to Worcester, MA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Washington, DC | Worcester, MA | Real change, Washington → Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $70,623 | $69,905 | +5.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $85,447 | $84,579 | +5.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $102,415 | $101,375 | +5.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $121,785 | $120,548 | +5.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $143,913 | $142,452 | +5.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Washington, DC | Worcester, MA | Worcester pay in Washington dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,470 | $82,810 | $87,948 (+10.7%) |
| Software Developers | $154,930 | $146,950 | $156,067 (+0.7%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $102,140 | $94,070 | $99,907 (−2.2%) |
| Registered Nurses | $102,710 | $100,240 | $106,459 (+3.7%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.