Cost of Living: Reading, MA vs Worcester, MA

Quick rent-and-take-home comparison

Using a baseline of $70,000/yr gross, take-home is about $4,224/mo in Reading, MA versus $4,224/mo in Worcester, MA. In the model, rent is about 25.1% of gross in Reading, MA versus 20.62% in Worcester, MA, so Worcester, MA tends to feel more affordable for rent.

Take-home in Reading, MA
$4,224/mo
Income level: below
Take-home in Worcester, MA
$4,224/mo
Income level: near
Rent share (1BR) in Reading, MA
25.1%
COLI tier: mid-range
Rent share (1BR) in Worcester, MA
20.62%
COLI tier: mid-range

Compare cost of living, rent, housing prices, and salary affordability between Reading, MA and Worcester, MA.

At a glance

  • Cheaper overall (lower cost-of-living index): Worcester, MA
  • Lower rent (median 1BR/2BR): Worcester, MA
  • Lower home prices: Worcester, MA
  • Higher median household income: Reading, MA

Cost of Living Index

Reading, MA: 100 (U.S. = 100) · Worcester, MA: 100 (U.S. = 100)

Both cities have the same cost-of-living index (U.S. average = 100).

Median Rent

Reading, MA: $1,636/mo (midpoint of 1BR/2BR) · Worcester, MA: $1,345/mo

Median rent in Reading, MA is $291/mo higher than in Worcester, MA.

Median Home Price

Reading, MA: $741,100 · Worcester, MA: $339,500

Median home price in Reading, MA is $401,600 higher than in Worcester, MA.

Median Household Income

Reading, MA: $163,725 · Worcester, MA: $67,544

Reading, MA has a higher median household income than Worcester, MA by $96,181.

Reading, MA overview · Worcester, MA overview · Popular comparisons