City comparison
Wilmington, NC vs Worcester, MA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Worcester, MA are 6.3% higher than in Wilmington, NC. Someone earning $100,000 in Wilmington, NC would need about $106,300 in Worcester, MA to live the same way.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,599 a month in Worcester, MA versus $1,513 in Wilmington, NC. On $100,000, that's 26% of take-home pay in Worcester, MA and 24% in Wilmington, NC.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,299 a year higher in Worcester, MA than in Wilmington, NC.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +13.3% moving from Wilmington, NC to Worcester, MA ($106,437 → $120,548), while prices change by +6.3%. Net effect of the transfer: +6.5% in real buying power.
- Wilmington, NC: price level 96.4 (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
| Wilmington, NC | Worcester, MA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 96.4 | 102.5 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $106,327 in Worcester | $94,049 in Wilmington |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,513/mo | $1,599/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,699 | $74,400 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,481 (NC) | $4,780 (MA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 24% | 26% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $45,800 | $57,830 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT |
Rent areas: Wilmington, NC HUD Metro FMR Area and Worcester, MA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Wilmington, NC and Worcester, MA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Wilmington | Worcester |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 93.2 | 113.0 |
| Goods | 96.6 | 97.0 |
| Utilities | 87.9 | 155.2 |
| Other services | 98.2 | 101.2 |
| Overall | 96.4 | 102.5 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Wilmington, NC → Worcester, MA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −6.0%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax +$1,299/yr.
49 Fair offer
Worcester, MA → Wilmington, NC
Same pay goes further
Buying power +6.3%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax −$1,299/yr.
89 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Wilmington, NC 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 Wilmington, NC to Worcester, MA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Wilmington, NC | Worcester, MA | Real change, Wilmington → Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $69,905 | +6.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $84,579 | +6.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $101,375 | +6.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $120,548 | +6.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $142,452 | +6.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Wilmington, NC | Worcester, MA | Worcester pay in Wilmington dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $48,240 | $82,810 | $77,882 (+61.4%) |
| Software Developers | $123,730 | $146,950 | $138,205 (+11.7%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $77,920 | $94,070 | $88,472 (+13.5%) |
| Registered Nurses | $80,970 | $100,240 | $94,275 (+16.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.