Barnstable, MA vs Worcester, MA: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, Worcester, MA is 4.2% more expensive than Barnstable, MA (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Barnstable works out to about $78,200 in Worcester, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 25.5% more in Worcester. Goods are 0.0% higher and other services 0.0% higher.
- Typical asking rent is $2,105 a month in Worcester and $2,578 in Barnstable, $5,676 a year less in Worcester (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $477,000 in Worcester and $757,000 in Barnstable.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (4.0%).
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Housing drives the gap: 25.5% higher in Worcester than in Barnstable
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Barnstable, MA
- Worcester, MA
All items Barnstable, MA: 98.4 Worcester, MA: 102.5
Goods Barnstable, MA: 97.0 Worcester, MA: 97.0
Housing (rents) Barnstable, MA: 90.0 Worcester, MA: 113.0
Utilities Barnstable, MA: 158.5 Worcester, MA: 155.2
Other services Barnstable, MA: 101.2 Worcester, MA: 101.2
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Barnstable, MA | Worcester, MA | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 98.4 | 102.5 |
| Goods | 97.0 | 97.0 |
| Housing (rents) | 90.0 | 113.0 |
| Utilities | 158.5 | 155.2 |
| Other services | 101.2 | 101.2 |
| Category | Barnstable | Worcester | Worcester vs Barnstable |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 98.4 | 102.5 | +4.2% |
| Goods | 97.0 | 97.0 | 0.0% |
| Housing (rents) | 90.0 | 113.0 | +25.5% |
| Utilities | 158.5 | 155.2 | −2.0% |
| Other services | 101.2 | 101.2 | 0.0% |
| Typical asking rent | $2,578 | $2,105 | −18.3% |
| Typical home value | $757,000 | $477,000 | −37.1% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Barnstable | $75,000 | $78,200 | +4.2% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Barnstable and Worcester has widened since 2008: 1.9 points then, 4.2 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Barnstable, MA
- Worcester, MA
US average = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Barnstable, MA | Worcester, MA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 102.8 | 104.7 |
| 2009 | 102.7 | 103.5 |
| 2010 | 105.2 | 103.2 |
| 2011 | 99.4 | 103.8 |
| 2012 | 100.9 | 103.0 |
| 2013 | 100.0 | 101.7 |
| 2014 | 104.5 | 103.1 |
| 2015 | 105.7 | 102.0 |
| 2016 | 105.8 | 106.3 |
| 2017 | 105.8 | 104.8 |
| 2018 | 101.1 | 101.4 |
| 2019 | 105.2 | 101.0 |
| 2020 | 101.3 | 101.8 |
| 2021 | 101.4 | 100.4 |
| 2022 | 108.8 | 105.1 |
| 2023 | 106.5 | 103.0 |
| 2024 | 98.4 | 102.5 |
Goods
- Barnstable, MA
- Worcester, MA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Barnstable, MA | Worcester, MA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 99.8 | 98.3 |
| 2009 | 101.1 | 97.3 |
| 2010 | 98.0 | 100.0 |
| 2011 | 97.9 | 102.0 |
| 2012 | 97.4 | 101.9 |
| 2013 | 97.3 | 101.4 |
| 2014 | 97.6 | 105.1 |
| 2015 | 98.8 | 102.8 |
| 2016 | 98.3 | 104.7 |
| 2017 | 99.5 | 104.5 |
| 2018 | 100.8 | 100.8 |
| 2019 | 97.9 | 97.9 |
| 2020 | 98.8 | 98.8 |
| 2021 | 96.9 | 96.9 |
| 2022 | 100.8 | 100.8 |
| 2023 | 98.8 | 98.8 |
| 2024 | 97.0 | 97.0 |
Housing (rents)
- Barnstable, MA
- Worcester, MA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Barnstable, MA | Worcester, MA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 106.8 | 112.4 |
| 2009 | 104.9 | 112.8 |
| 2010 | 127.3 | 113.1 |
| 2011 | 99.3 | 117.4 |
| 2012 | 107.0 | 113.7 |
| 2013 | 97.6 | 114.9 |
| 2014 | 126.8 | 114.1 |
| 2015 | 126.0 | 101.8 |
| 2016 | 123.3 | 109.7 |
| 2017 | 119.3 | 105.9 |
| 2018 | 101.7 | 105.0 |
| 2019 | 124.9 | 102.9 |
| 2020 | 100.4 | 102.8 |
| 2021 | 107.9 | 104.8 |
| 2022 | 125.2 | 106.8 |
| 2023 | 124.2 | 109.2 |
| 2024 | 90.0 | 113.0 |
Utilities
- Barnstable, MA
- Worcester, MA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Barnstable, MA | Worcester, MA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 139.4 | 152.2 |
| 2009 | 137.1 | 143.6 |
| 2010 | 122.5 | 113.8 |
| 2011 | 121.5 | 120.4 |
| 2012 | 119.4 | 128.5 |
| 2013 | 123.6 | 115.1 |
| 2014 | 127.9 | 110.1 |
| 2015 | 133.8 | 119.7 |
| 2016 | 132.8 | 135.6 |
| 2017 | 137.0 | 153.2 |
| 2018 | 147.6 | 142.1 |
| 2019 | 144.7 | 142.1 |
| 2020 | 155.0 | 157.8 |
| 2021 | 148.9 | 149.2 |
| 2022 | 149.1 | 146.0 |
| 2023 | 158.7 | 156.5 |
| 2024 | 158.5 | 155.2 |
Other services
- Barnstable, MA
- Worcester, MA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Barnstable, MA | Worcester, MA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 101.3 | 105.4 |
| 2009 | 101.4 | 103.6 |
| 2010 | 99.8 | 102.4 |
| 2011 | 99.4 | 101.2 |
| 2012 | 99.8 | 100.5 |
| 2013 | 101.9 | 98.4 |
| 2014 | 98.7 | 99.5 |
| 2015 | 101.4 | 101.0 |
| 2016 | 102.1 | 105.4 |
| 2017 | 102.9 | 103.4 |
| 2018 | 99.5 | 99.5 |
| 2019 | 100.9 | 100.9 |
| 2020 | 101.6 | 101.6 |
| 2021 | 99.9 | 99.9 |
| 2022 | 105.6 | 105.6 |
| 2023 | 102.1 | 102.1 |
| 2024 | 101.2 | 101.2 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $2,105 in Worcester vs $2,578 in Barnstable
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Barnstable, MA
- Worcester, MA
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Barnstable, MA | Worcester, MA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | – | $1,051 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | – | $1,071 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | – | $1,073 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | – | $1,089 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | – | $1,073 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | – | $1,131 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | – | $1,137 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | – | $1,137 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | – | $1,157 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | – | $1,196 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | – | $1,182 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | – | $1,203 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | – | $1,220 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | – | $1,257 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | – | $1,268 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | – | $1,276 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $1,587 | $1,299 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $1,520 | $1,328 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $1,534 | $1,334 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $1,708 | $1,347 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $1,727 | $1,379 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $1,695 | $1,401 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,786 | $1,412 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,784 | $1,431 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,833 | $1,457 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,978 | $1,518 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,979 | $1,571 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $2,002 | $1,603 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $2,152 | $1,638 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $2,149 | $1,721 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $2,252 | $1,740 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $2,197 | $1,745 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $2,285 | $1,788 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $2,351 | $1,833 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $2,359 | $1,866 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $2,328 | $1,872 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $2,429 | $1,905 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $2,441 | $1,956 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $2,442 | $1,990 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $2,428 | $1,983 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $2,492 | $2,028 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $2,532 | $2,064 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $2,526 | $2,075 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $2,489 | $2,077 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $2,596 | $2,077 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $2,599 | $2,106 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $2,578 | $2,105 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $477,000 in Worcester vs $757,000 in Barnstable
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Barnstable, MA
- Worcester, MA
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Barnstable, MA | Worcester, MA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $367K | $229K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $371K | $231K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $376K | $234K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $380K | $237K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $383K | $240K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $385K | $244K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $387K | $247K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $393K | $251K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $399K | $255K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $405K | $261K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $410K | $265K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $415K | $269K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $421K | $274K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $428K | $279K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $435K | $283K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $435K | $283K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $437K | $285K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $441K | $289K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $440K | $291K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $442K | $295K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $447K | $300K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $450K | $305K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $459K | $312K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $487K | $329K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $519K | $345K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $564K | $362K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $585K | $366K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $596K | $366K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $633K | $384K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $670K | $403K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $674K | $404K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $670K | $401K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $666K | $404K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $685K | $415K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $706K | $429K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $717K | $437K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $718K | $443K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $733K | $452K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $742K | $458K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $742K | $464K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $743K | $467K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $740K | $466K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $736K | $467K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $742K | $472K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $748K | $474K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $749K | $475K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $757K | $477K | $366K |
More about each city
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.