same $100k income, fresh start from Portland
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
pricier each month than Portland
Barely costlier than Portland. If Worcester pulls you in, it's the life it offers, not the price tag.
a quick ledger.
$2,140/mo
20% more expensive than Portland(vs $1,781/mo)
5%
$312/mo less in state tax than Portland
vs 8.75% in Portland
$5,777/mo
$46 less than Portland
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$486k
14% cheaper than Portland
vs $562k in Portland
867k
vs 2.5M in Portland
field notes, weather & such.
148
pleasant days a year, in worcester.
Portland gets 178 pleasant days a year, so you'd be trading some sunshine. Cold is the cost: 55 days drop below 20° vs Portland's 2.
Noticeably quieter than Portland. About 76% fewer events on a typical month.
59/100
32% lower than Portland
vs 87/100 in Portland
Closest outdoor draw: Wachusett Mountain State Reservation, 14.9 mi.
90/100
10% lower than Portland
vs 100/100 in Portland
2
96% fewer than Portland
vs 57 nonstops in Portland
compare worcester with:
