City comparison
Allentown, PA vs Worcester, MA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Worcester, MA are 2.6% higher than in Allentown, PA. Someone earning $100,000 in Allentown, PA would need about $102,600 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 $1,341 in Allentown, PA. On $100,000, that's 26% of take-home pay in Worcester, MA and 21% in Allentown, PA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,710 a year higher in Worcester, MA than in Allentown, PA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −3.9% moving from Allentown, PA to Worcester, MA ($125,431 → $120,548), while prices change by +2.6%. Net effect of the transfer: −6.3% in real buying power.
- Allentown, PA: price level 100.0 (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
| Allentown, PA | Worcester, MA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 100.0 | 102.5 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $102,556 in Worcester | $97,508 in Allentown |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,341/mo | $1,599/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,110 | $74,400 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,070 (PA) | $4,780 (MA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 21% | 26% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,990 | $57,830 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA | Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT |
Rent areas: Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA HUD Metro FMR Area and Worcester, MA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ and Worcester, MA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Allentown | Worcester |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 105.5 | 113.0 |
| Goods | 100.6 | 97.0 |
| Utilities | 107.6 | 155.2 |
| Other services | 97.8 | 101.2 |
| Overall | 100.0 | 102.5 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Allentown, PA → Worcester, MA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −2.5%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax +$1,710/yr.
60 Fair offer
Worcester, MA → Allentown, PA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +2.6%; rent takes 21% of take-home; state tax −$1,710/yr.
77 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Allentown, PA is in the New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA pay area; Worcester, MA is in Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT. The last column shows what a transfer from Allentown, PA to Worcester, MA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Allentown, PA | Worcester, MA | Real change, Allentown → Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $72,737 | $69,905 | −6.3% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $88,005 | $84,579 | −6.3% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $105,481 | $101,375 | −6.3% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $125,431 | $120,548 | −6.3% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $148,222 | $142,452 | −6.3% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Allentown, PA | Worcester, MA | Worcester pay in Allentown dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,040 | $82,810 | $80,746 (+2.2%) |
| Software Developers | $122,930 | $146,950 | $143,288 (+16.6%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $78,430 | $94,070 | $91,726 (+17.0%) |
| Registered Nurses | $101,440 | $100,240 | $97,742 (−3.6%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.