on $100k a year, leaving Houston
changea dispatch from
worcester
MA
42.26°N
71.80°W
Worcester (pronounced 'WOO-stuh', please) is triple-deckers, classic American diners (the city helped invent the diner), and a college-heavy student population (Clark, Holy Cross, WPI, and a dozen more). The smiley face was invented here in 1963. It's central Massachusetts' working-class anchor and quietly gaining a real food scene. Cheaper than Boston, an hour away when you need it.
in our guides
the verdict
more each month than Houston ran you
A real premium for Worcester. Worth it only if the city itself is the whole point.
a quick ledger.
$2,140/mo
33% more expensive than Houston(vs $1,610/mo)
5%
$417/mo more in state tax than Houston
vs 0% in Houston
$5,777/mo
$946 less than Houston
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$486k
56% more expensive than Houston
vs $311k in Houston
867k
vs 7.5M in Houston
field notes, weather & such.
148
pleasant days a year, in worcester.
Houston has the edge here, logging 171 pleasant days a year. The trade is winter: 55 days below 20°, vs 1 in Houston.
But the calendar thins out: Houston stays 7.1× busier.
59/100
7% higher than Houston
vs 55/100 in Houston
Closest outdoor draw: Wachusett Mountain State Reservation, 14.9 mi.
90/100
17% higher than Houston
vs 77/100 in Houston
2
99% fewer than Houston
vs 176 nonstops in Houston
cities that play in worcester's register:
compare worcester with:
