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Relocation profile · Federal data

Worcester, MA

BEA RPP 102.5 ranks #337 of 387 scored metros for higher prices (dearer third).

102.5
Cost index (US=100)
$1,749
2BR rent / mo
$79,342
Median salary
55.1
LiveAbility Score

The verdict

As of June 2026, Worcester ranks #130 of 387 US metros on the LiveAbility Score (55.1/100), with its strongest marks in job market and schools.

#130
of 387 US metros · Above median
7,136,171
metro-area population
309
violent crimes per 100K (state-level)
1,831
schools in the state (NCES)

Weakest dimension: cost of living (13/100). Weigh every dimension against your own priorities, use the City Finder to re-rank by what matters to you.

According to PlainRelocate's LiveAbility composite (BEA, BLS, HUD, FBI, NCES, EPA, NOAA, and FEMA inputs), Worcester ranks #130 of 387 scored US metros by LiveAbility Score (highest score = #1). Cost-of-living index 102.5 (100 = national average), median 2-bedroom rent $1,749/mo, median salary $79,342; LiveAbility Score 55.1/100, strongest in job market and schools.

Signature: BEA RPP 102.5 ranks #337 of 387 scored metros for higher prices (dearer third).

Purchasing power tightens: BEA RPP 102.5 lands in the dearer third of scored metros (cuts at 91.5 / 97.0). Median 2BR rent $1,749/mo.

LiveAbility 55.1/100 puts Worcester in the top third (#130 of 387).

BLS OEWS total employment in the Worcester area is 337,180.

Worcester vs all US metros by LiveAbility Score

Where this metro's LiveAbility Score falls among every scored US metro (composite placement, not a desirability verdict)

55 Top 34% higher than 66% of 387 US metros

Metros banded by LiveAbility Score (0–100)

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source PlainRelocate LiveAbility Score · June 2026

Worcester housing and rent

HUD Fair Market Rents for the Worcester MSA; housing RPP 113.0 (100 = national average); 2BR $1,749/mo.

Studio
$1,206
/month
1 Bedroom
$1,410
/month
2 Bedroom
$1,749
/month
3 Bedroom
$2,247
/month
4 Bedroom
$2,637
/month

Worcester wages and employment

Worcester posts 337,180 total employment with median salary $79,342 against a dearer-than-average RPP.

Median Salary
$79,342
Mean Salary
$82,251
Total Employment
337,180

Top Occupations by Employment

Occupation Median Salary
Home Health and Personal Care Aides $40,870
Registered Nurses $100,240
Retail Salespersons $36,220
Fast Food and Counter Workers $34,610
General and Operations Managers $111,900

Schools & Education

State-level education data for the Worcester area from NCES.

Schools
1,831
Enrollment
918,103
Student:Teacher
12.3:1
Title I %
0%

Childcare Costs

State-average childcare costs for the Worcester area (DOL data).

Infant (Center)
$20,571
per year
Toddler (Center)
$18,516
per year
Preschool (Center)
$14,656
per year

Life Score Breakdown

Worcester's composite Life Score is 35.7/100 (F), computed across 7 of 7 dimensions.

Cost
13/100
Bottom decile
Wages
93/100
Elite
Rent
17/100
Bottom decile
Crime
51/100
Average
Schools
11/100
Bottom decile
Childcare
0/100
Bottom decile
Environment
30/100
Weak

LiveAbility Score

View full rankings →

Worcester ranks #130 out of 387 metros with a LiveAbility Score of 55.1/100 - a composite of 8 of 8 quality-of-life dimensions from federal data. Customize the weights to match your priorities →

Strongest dimension: Job market (93/100)

Worcester - dimension scores

Percentile vs all US metros (100 = best in the nation for that dimension)

score

What this shows Worcester's strongest dimensions are job market and schools; its weakest among scored dims is cost of living at 13/100. Default weights: cost 18%, jobs & housing 15% each, safety & schools 12%, air & hazard 10%, climate 8%.

Source BEA · BLS · HUD · FBI · NCES · EPA · NOAA · FEMA As of Federal data, latest available vintage

Compare Worcester to

San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles Sandusky Santa Cruz-Watsonville Santa Fe Santa Maria-Santa Barbara Santa Rosa-Petaluma

Metros near Worcester on cost, LiveAbility, or wages

Nearest out-of-state neighbors to Worcester on BEA RPP, LiveAbility, or BLS median salary, a different lens than the size-ranked list.

Similar cost of living (BEA RPP)

Similar LiveAbility score

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026

Worcester cost figures follow BEA Regional Price Parities and HUD Fair Market Rents; Worcester wages and LiveAbility inputs follow BLS OEWS plus the federal sources listed in methodology. This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Scores are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation. How this data is sourced.

Verify with BEA → · Verify with BLS → · Verify with HUD → · Verify with NOAA → · Verify with FEMA → · Verify with Census →

Thinking about Worcester?

Worcester runs a $79,342 median salary at a 102.5 cost index, ranking #130 of 387 nationally on LiveAbility.

  • See exactly what Worcester's pay and cost figures mean for your own budget. Salary calculator
  • Put Worcester head-to-head against another city on the same dimensions. Compare Worcester
  • Abilene is the closest related metro in this corpus -- see how it stacks up. Abilene profile
  • A cheaper cost index and a higher LiveAbility score don't always point the same direction -- here's how to weigh the trade-off. Cost vs quality guide

Cost, salary and score figures are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation.