Relocation: Worcester, MA to Raleigh-Cary, NC
Data updated · Sources: HUD FY 2027 Fair Market Rents, EPI 2026 Family Budget, 2026 tax tables · Methodology
Income tax, HUD Fair Market Rents and EPI living costs for a move from Worcester, MA to Raleigh-Cary, NC.
Interactive Purchasing Power Equivalency Workbench
Adjust your current salary at origin to dynamically compute the statutory tax burden, housing costs, and discretionary cash in both markets.
Worcester, MA
Raleigh-Cary, NC
Itemized Cost of Living Expenditure Arbitrage
Category-by-category breakdown of monthly baseline consumption between origin and destination.
| Expenditure Category | Worcester (Monthly) | Raleigh-Cary (Monthly) | Monthly Delta ($) | Difference (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (1BR Fair Market Rent) | $1,587 | $1,552 | -$35 | -2.2% |
| Food & Groceries | $386 | $382 | -$4 | -1.0% |
| Transportation | $1,085 | $1,109 | +$24 | +2.2% |
| Healthcare | $420 | $451 | +$31 | +7.4% |
| Other Necessities | $563 | $595 | +$32 | +5.7% |
| Total Taxes (Federal, State, Local, FICA) | $2,133 | $2,025 | -$108 | -5.1% |
HUD Fair Market Rent Differential
EPI Living Wage Benchmark Comparison
Top Local Occupations Wage Parity
BLS median wage comparisons across benchmark roles between both metropolitan labor markets.
| Occupation Title | Industry Sector | Worcester Median | Raleigh-Cary Median | Nominal Wage Delta | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse (RN)Healthcare | Healthcare | $100,240 | $84,830 | -$15,410 (-15.4%) | View Dossier |
| General and Operations ManagersFinance & Management | Finance & Management | $111,900 | $114,940 | +$3,040 (+2.7%) | View Dossier |
| Software EngineerTechnology | Technology | $146,950 | $132,770 | -$14,180 (-9.6%) | View Dossier |
| Accountant & AuditorFinance | Finance | $94,070 | $81,950 | -$12,120 (-12.9%) | View Dossier |
| Project Management SpecialistBusiness Operations | Business Operations | $100,290 | $102,280 | +$1,990 (+2.0%) | View Dossier |
| Computer and Information Systems ManagersFinance & Management | Finance & Management | $193,890 | $173,960 | -$19,930 (-10.3%) | View Dossier |
| ElectricianSkilled Trades | Skilled Trades | $75,510 | $56,800 | -$18,710 (-24.8%) | View Dossier |
| Financial ManagerFinance | Finance | $170,940 | $163,130 | -$7,810 (-4.6%) | View Dossier |
| Management AnalystBusiness Operations | Business Operations | $122,180 | $96,820 | -$25,360 (-20.8%) | View Dossier |
| Sales ManagersFinance & Management | Finance & Management | $162,810 | $163,520 | +$710 (+0.4%) | View Dossier |
| Plumber & PipefitterSkilled Trades | Skilled Trades | $82,260 | $60,540 | -$21,720 (-26.4%) | View Dossier |
| Solutions ArchitectTechnology | Technology | $104,140 | $110,030 | +$5,890 (+5.7%) | View Dossier |
Major US Inter-Metro Relocation Corridors
Empirical cost differentials and statutory tax savings across high-volume migration routes.
On $100k: $8,301 less tax and $14,388 less 1BR rent a year
On $100k: $6,211 less tax and $17,676 less 1BR rent a year
On $100k: $4,805 less tax and $2,928 less 1BR rent a year
On $100k: $1,729 less tax and $19,884 less 1BR rent a year
On $100k: $4,113 less tax and $10,908 less 1BR rent a year
On $100k: $3,761 more tax and $4,188 less 1BR rent a year
On $100k: $1,299 less tax and $11,592 less 1BR rent a year
On $100k: $8,301 less tax and $7,296 less 1BR rent a year
Worcester, MA to Raleigh-Cary, NC Relocation FAQs
About $105,800. That scales $100,000 by the ratio of the metros' cost-of-living indexes (128.7 in Worcester, MA, 136.2 in Raleigh-Cary, NC, from EPI family budgets); taxes are compared separately below.
Worcester, MA to Raleigh-Cary, NC: State Paychecks, Rents & Reciprocal Corridor
Worcester, MA to Raleigh-Cary, NC: 2026 federal, state and local income tax, HUD Fair Market Rents and EPI living costs compared on the same salary. Official 2026 economic data for Relocation: Worcester, MA to Raleigh-Cary, NC compiled from Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS surveys, HUD Fair Market Rents, and statutory tax codes.
Quick answers
About $105,800. That scales $100,000 by the ratio of the metros' cost-of-living indexes (128.7 in Worcester, MA, 136.2 in Raleigh-Cary, NC, from EPI family budgets); taxes are compared separately below.
EPI's family budgets for a single adult put overall living costs 5.8% higher in Raleigh-Cary, NC than in Worcester, MA. The budgets cover housing, food, transportation, health care and other necessities.