City comparison
Davenport, IA vs Worcester, MA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Worcester, MA are 15.1% higher than in Davenport, IA. Someone earning $100,000 in Davenport, IA would need about $115,100 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 $928 in Davenport, IA. On $100,000, that's 26% of take-home pay in Worcester, MA and 15% in Davenport, IA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,632 a year higher in Worcester, MA than in Davenport, IA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +11.5% moving from Davenport, IA to Worcester, MA ($108,137 → $120,548), while prices change by +15.1%. Net effect of the transfer: −3.1% in real buying power.
- Davenport, IA: price level 89.1 (much 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
| Davenport, IA | Worcester, MA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 89.1 | 102.5 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $115,092 in Worcester | $86,887 in Davenport |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $928/mo | $1,599/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,032 | $74,400 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,148 (IA) | $4,780 (MA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 15% | 26% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,550 | $57,830 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Davenport-Moline, IA-IL | Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT |
Rent areas: Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL MSA and Worcester, MA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL and Worcester, MA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Davenport | Worcester |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 68.3 | 113.0 |
| Goods | 94.2 | 97.0 |
| Utilities | 89.9 | 155.2 |
| Other services | 93.5 | 101.2 |
| Overall | 89.1 | 102.5 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Davenport, IA → Worcester, MA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −13.1%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax +$1,632/yr.
36 Weak offer
Worcester, MA → Davenport, IA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +15.1%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax −$1,632/yr.
100 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Davenport, IA is in the Davenport-Moline, IA-IL pay area; Worcester, MA is in Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT. The last column shows what a transfer from Davenport, IA to Worcester, MA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Davenport, IA | Worcester, MA | Real change, Davenport → Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,708 | $69,905 | −3.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,871 | $84,579 | −3.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $90,937 | $101,375 | −3.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $108,137 | $120,548 | −3.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $127,786 | $142,452 | −3.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Davenport, IA | Worcester, MA | Worcester pay in Davenport dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,650 | $82,810 | $71,951 (+16.7%) |
| Software Developers | $115,780 | $146,950 | $127,680 (+10.3%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $77,600 | $94,070 | $81,734 (+5.3%) |
| Registered Nurses | $77,150 | $100,240 | $87,095 (+12.9%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.