City comparison
Eugene, OR vs Worcester, MA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Eugene, OR (101.6) and Worcester, MA (102.5, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Eugene, OR goes as far as $100,900 in Worcester, MA.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,599 a month in Worcester, MA versus $1,286 in Eugene, OR. On $100,000, that's 26% of take-home pay in Worcester, MA and 22% in Eugene, OR.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,140 a year higher in Eugene, OR than in Worcester, MA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +13.3% moving from Eugene, OR to Worcester, MA ($106,437 → $120,548), while prices change by +0.9%. Net effect of the transfer: +12.2% in real buying power.
- Eugene, OR: price level 101.6 (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
| Eugene, OR | Worcester, MA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 101.6 | 102.5 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $100,940 in Worcester | $99,069 in Eugene |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,286/mo | $1,599/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $71,260 | $74,400 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $7,920 (OR) | $4,780 (MA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 22% | 26% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,680 | $57,830 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT |
Rent areas: Eugene-Springfield, OR MSA and Worcester, MA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Eugene-Springfield, OR and Worcester, MA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Eugene | Worcester |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 98.3 | 113.0 |
| Goods | 105.3 | 97.0 |
| Utilities | 102.5 | 155.2 |
| Other services | 100.3 | 101.2 |
| Overall | 101.6 | 102.5 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Eugene, OR → Worcester, MA
Roughly even
Buying power −0.9%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax −$3,140/yr.
65 Fair offer
Worcester, MA → Eugene, OR
Roughly even
Buying power +0.9%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax +$3,140/yr.
72 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Eugene, OR 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 Eugene, OR to Worcester, MA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Eugene, OR | Worcester, MA | Real change, Eugene → Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $69,905 | +12.2% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $84,579 | +12.2% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $101,375 | +12.2% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $120,548 | +12.2% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $142,452 | +12.2% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Eugene, OR | Worcester, MA | Worcester pay in Eugene dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $64,260 | $82,810 | $82,039 (+27.7%) |
| Software Developers | $121,050 | $146,950 | $145,581 (+20.3%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,930 | $94,070 | $93,194 (+16.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $113,720 | $100,240 | $99,306 (−12.7%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.