City comparison
Portland, OR vs Worcester, MA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Portland, OR are 2.8% higher than in Worcester, MA. Someone earning $100,000 in Worcester, MA would need about $102,800 in Portland, OR to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,677 a month in Portland, OR and $1,599 in Worcester, MA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,140 a year higher in Portland, OR than in Worcester, MA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +5.1% moving from Portland, OR to Worcester, MA ($114,684 → $120,548), while prices change by −2.7%. Net effect of the transfer: +8.1% in real buying power.
- Portland, OR: price level 105.4 (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
| Portland, OR | Worcester, MA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 105.4 | 102.5 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $97,251 in Worcester | $102,827 in Portland |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,677/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 | 28% | 26% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $60,690 | $57,830 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA | Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT |
Rent areas: Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA MSA and Worcester, MA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA and Worcester, MA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Portland | Worcester |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 125.1 | 113.0 |
| Goods | 105.2 | 97.0 |
| Utilities | 107.0 | 155.2 |
| Other services | 100.1 | 101.2 |
| Overall | 105.4 | 102.5 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Portland, OR → Worcester, MA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +2.8%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax −$3,140/yr.
76 Strong offer
Worcester, MA → Portland, OR
Same pay buys less
Buying power −2.7%; rent takes 28% of take-home; state tax +$3,140/yr.
55 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Portland, OR is in the Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA pay area; Worcester, MA is in Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT. The last column shows what a transfer from Portland, OR to Worcester, MA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Portland, OR | Worcester, MA | Real change, Portland → Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $66,505 | $69,905 | +8.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $80,465 | $84,579 | +8.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $96,443 | $101,375 | +8.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $114,684 | $120,548 | +8.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $135,522 | $142,452 | +8.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Portland, OR | Worcester, MA | Worcester pay in Portland dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $82,330 | $82,810 | $85,151 (+3.4%) |
| Software Developers | $156,000 | $146,950 | $151,104 (−3.1%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $92,200 | $94,070 | $96,729 (+4.9%) |
| Registered Nurses | $130,310 | $100,240 | $103,073 (−20.9%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.