City comparison
Baltimore, MD vs Worcester, MA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Baltimore, MD are 1.9% higher than in Worcester, MA. Someone earning $100,000 in Worcester, MA would need about $101,900 in Baltimore, MD to live the same way.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,599 a month in Worcester, MA versus $1,511 in Baltimore, MD. On $100,000, that's 26% of take-home pay in Worcester, MA and 24% in Baltimore, MD.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $394 a year higher in Worcester, MA than in Baltimore, MD.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −1.0% moving from Baltimore, MD to Worcester, MA ($121,785 → $120,548), while prices change by −1.9%. Net effect of the transfer: +0.9% in real buying power.
- Baltimore, MD: price level 104.5 (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
| Baltimore, MD | Worcester, MA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 104.5 | 102.5 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $98,120 in Worcester | $101,916 in Baltimore |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,511/mo | $1,599/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,794 | $74,400 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,386 (MD) | $4,780 (MA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 24% | 26% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $59,070 | $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: Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD MSA and Worcester, MA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD and Worcester, MA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Baltimore | Worcester |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 118.2 | 113.0 |
| Goods | 102.4 | 97.0 |
| Utilities | 110.2 | 155.2 |
| Other services | 101.5 | 101.2 |
| Overall | 104.5 | 102.5 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Baltimore, MD → Worcester, MA
Roughly even
Buying power +1.9%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax +$394/yr.
74 Strong offer
Worcester, MA → Baltimore, MD
Roughly even
Buying power −1.9%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax −$394/yr.
63 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Baltimore, MD 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 Baltimore, MD to Worcester, MA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Baltimore, MD | Worcester, MA | Real change, Baltimore → Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $70,623 | $69,905 | +0.9% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $85,447 | $84,579 | +0.9% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $102,415 | $101,375 | +0.9% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $121,785 | $120,548 | +0.9% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $143,913 | $142,452 | +0.9% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Baltimore, MD | Worcester, MA | Worcester pay in Baltimore dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $76,400 | $82,810 | $84,396 (+10.5%) |
| Software Developers | $138,900 | $146,950 | $149,765 (+7.8%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $85,160 | $94,070 | $95,872 (+12.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $99,550 | $100,240 | $102,160 (+2.6%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.