SalaryCompareTool

Worcester, MA vs Baltimore, MD

Moving from Worcester to Baltimore? Here's what changes — from your equivalent salary to housing ($482,611 → $405,877 median home) and taxes.

Worcester vs Baltimore at a glance

Bars scaled to the range across all 200 metros; labels show actual values.

Worcester, MA Baltimore, MD Cost-of-living index Worcester, MA — Cost-of-living index: 103 103 Baltimore, MD — Cost-of-living index: 103 103 Median home price Worcester, MA — Median home price: $483k $483k Baltimore, MD — Median home price: $406k $406k Price per sqft Worcester, MA — Price per sqft: $284 $284 Baltimore, MD — Price per sqft: $214 $214 Median rent Worcester, MA — Median rent: $2,182 $2,182 Baltimore, MD — Median rent: $1,919 $1,919 Combined sales tax Worcester, MA — Combined sales tax: 6.3% 6.3% Baltimore, MD — Combined sales tax: 6.0% 6.0% Property tax rate Worcester, MA — Property tax rate: 1.39% 1.39% Baltimore, MD — Property tax rate: 1.04% 1.04% Violent crime /100k Worcester, MA — Violent crime /100k: 330 330 Baltimore, MD — Violent crime /100k: 450 450 Electricity ¢/kWh Worcester, MA — Electricity ¢/kWh: 29.4 29.4 Baltimore, MD — Electricity ¢/kWh: 22.1 22.1 Avg commute (min) Worcester, MA — Avg commute (min): 29 29 Baltimore, MD — Avg commute (min): 30 30 Avg summer high °F Worcester, MA — Avg summer high °F: 82° 82° Baltimore, MD — Avg summer high °F: 88° 88° Avg winter low °F Worcester, MA — Avg winter low °F: 22° 22° Baltimore, MD — Avg winter low °F: 27° 27°

To keep the same standard of living as $100,000 in Worcester, MA, you'd need about $100,196 in Baltimore, MD (+$196).

Livability — Worcester, MA: 56 · Baltimore, MD: 57 (0–100).

What your home budget buys

A $500,000 home budget gets you about 1,761 sqft in Worcester vs 2,341 sqft in Baltimore ($284 vs $214 per sqft).

Annual cost breakdown (at $100,000)

CategoryWorcester, MABaltimore, MDDifference
Housing $26,184 $23,028 −$3,156
Groceries $4,938 $5,075 +$137
Transportation $3,210 $3,685 +$475
Utilities $3,180 $2,388 −$792
Insurance $1,800 $1,400 −$400
Taxes $16,011 $11,584 −$4,426
Total $55,322 $47,160 −$8,162

Side by side

MetricWorcester, MABaltimore, MD
Cost-of-living index103.0103.2
Unemployment rate5.78%4.86%
Population growth (5-yr)4.3%1.7%
Air quality (median AQI)3747
Big Mac price (est.)$5.86$5.87
Median home price$482,611$405,877
Home price ÷ income5.6×4.3×
1-yr home appreciation1.8%0.8%
Price per square foot$284$214
Median rent$2,182$1,919
Total tax burden (% income)11.5%11.3%
Combined sales tax6.25%6.00%
Capital gains tax9.00%5.75%
Property tax rate1.39%1.04%
Healthcare (annual)$8,200$7,200
Childcare (annual, infant)$21,000$16,000
Vehicle property tax2.25%None
Avg commute (min)2930
Home insurance / yr$1,800$1,400
Auto insurance / yr$1,500$1,900
Flood insurance / yr$800$750
Earthquake insurance / yr$100$100
Electricity ¢/kWh29.422.1
Gas $/gal3.303.30
Violent crime /100k330450
Avg summer high °F8288
Avg winter low °F2227
Permit difficulty (1–5)44

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