City comparison
Manchester, NH vs Worcester, MA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Manchester, NH are 3.1% higher than in Worcester, MA. Someone earning $100,000 in Worcester, MA would need about $103,100 in Manchester, NH to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,552 a month in Manchester, NH and $1,599 in Worcester, MA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $4,780 a year higher in Worcester, MA than in Manchester, NH.
- Both cities are in the same federal pay area (Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT), so a GS-13 step 1 earns $120,548 in either. A transfer from Manchester, NH to Worcester, MA changes real buying power by +3.1%, purely from prices.
- Manchester, NH: price level 105.7 (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
| Manchester, NH | Worcester, MA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 105.7 | 102.5 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $97,034 in Worcester | $103,057 in Manchester |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,552/mo | $1,599/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $74,400 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (NH) | $4,780 (MA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 24% | 26% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $56,530 | $57,830 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT | Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT |
Rent areas: Manchester, NH HUD Metro FMR Area and Worcester, MA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Manchester-Nashua, NH and Worcester, MA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Manchester | Worcester |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 134.2 | 113.0 |
| Goods | 97.7 | 97.0 |
| Utilities | 133.5 | 155.2 |
| Other services | 103.7 | 101.2 |
| Overall | 105.7 | 102.5 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Manchester, NH → Worcester, MA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +3.1%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax +$4,780/yr.
77 Strong offer
Worcester, MA → Manchester, NH
Same pay buys less
Buying power −3.0%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax −$4,780/yr.
59 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Both metros are in the Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT locality pay area, so GS salaries are identical. The last column shows what a transfer from Manchester, NH to Worcester, MA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Manchester, NH | Worcester, MA | Real change, Manchester → Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $69,905 | $69,905 | +3.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $84,579 | $84,579 | +3.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $101,375 | $101,375 | +3.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $120,548 | $120,548 | +3.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $142,452 | $142,452 | +3.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Manchester, NH | Worcester, MA | Worcester pay in Manchester dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $73,380 | $82,810 | $85,341 (+16.3%) |
| Software Developers | $162,090 | $146,950 | $151,442 (−6.6%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $83,660 | $94,070 | $96,946 (+15.9%) |
| Registered Nurses | $98,600 | $100,240 | $103,304 (+4.8%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.