State Comparison

California vs Massachusetts

California is cheaper overall, while $100 goes further in Massachusetts, Massachusetts has higher incomes, Massachusetts has lower state income tax, and California gets more sunshine.

California

CA • West

Quality of Life Score

50.49

Massachusetts

MA • Northeast

Overall winner

Quality of Life Score

60.23

California

13 / 31

metrics won

Score

Massachusetts

18 / 31

metrics won

Wins

MA wins Housing

CA wins Quality of Life

CA wins Climate

MA wins Income

Quality of Life

Composite score — income, affordability, education, health, and safety.

California

50.49

Massachusetts winner

60.23

Massachusetts scores higher on quality of life — 9.74 points difference.

Overview

Key differences overview

These cards keep the comparison factual first, so the biggest tradeoffs in affordability, housing, taxes, politics, climate, and day-to-day living are easy to scan.

Overall Affordability

California is 10.3 points cheaper overall

California has the lower cost-of-living index. California is at 138.5, while Massachusetts is at 148.8.

View detailed comparison

Real Dollar Value

$100 goes $3.24 further in Massachusetts

After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $95.55 of local buying power in Massachusetts, versus $92.31 in California.

View detailed comparison

Income

Massachusetts income is 14.8% higher

Massachusetts has the higher median household income at $96,505, compared with $84,097 in California.

View detailed comparison

Jobs

California minimum wage is $1.50 higher

California has the higher statewide minimum wage at $16.50/hr, compared with $15.00/hr in Massachusetts.

View detailed comparison

Housing

California homes cost about 1.4x more

Massachusetts has the lower median home value at $510,400, versus $693,700 in California.

View detailed comparison

Taxes

Massachusetts has lower state income tax

Massachusetts has the lower state income tax rate. Its top rate is 5.00%, compared with 13.30% in California.

View detailed comparison

Take-Home Calculator

What's Your Salary Really Worth?

Enter your gross income to see real purchasing power and the cost-of-living equivalent in both states.

Annual Gross Salary

or drag the slider

$10k$250k$500k

California

Gross salary: —
State income tax (top rate 13.3%): —
After state tax: —
Real buying power (BEA RPP): —

Massachusetts

Gross salary: —
State income tax (top rate 5.0%): —
After state tax: —
Real buying power (BEA RPP): —

Cost-of-Living Equivalent

—

* "After state tax" uses the top marginal rate — actual effective rate is lower for most incomes. Real buying power uses BEA Regional Price Parity (113.4 for California, 110.4 for Massachusetts). COL equivalent uses the MERIC/C2ER composite index.

Tradeoffs

Pros and cons for each state

A fast scan of the biggest advantages and drawbacks pulled from affordability, housing, income, taxes, safety, health, education, jobs, and weather.

California

At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs

Pros: California

California has a lower overall cost of living.
California has lower property tax rates on average.
California has more sunny days.

Cons

California has a higher housing cost index.
California has higher median home values.
California shows lower median income.
California has a higher violent crime rate.
California job growth trend is weaker.
California health access/outcomes proxy is lower.

Massachusetts

At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs

Pros: Massachusetts

Massachusetts has a lower housing cost index.
Massachusetts has lower median home values.
Massachusetts shows higher median income.
Massachusetts has a lower violent crime rate.
Massachusetts job growth trend is stronger.
Massachusetts health access/outcomes proxy is higher.

Cons

Massachusetts has a higher overall cost of living.
Massachusetts has higher property tax rates on average.
Massachusetts has fewer sunny days.

Full Comparison

Pick a category to focus on. General shows the most important facts at a glance.

Metric	CA	MA	Deep dive
Capital City The official state capital.	Sacramento	Boston	Details ->
State Color Simple political color label based on the 2024 presidential result and battleground status.	Solid Blue	Solid Blue	Details ->
Population Total resident population (2020 Census).	39,538,223	7,029,917	Details ->
Median Income Median household income in U.S. dollars.	$84,097	$96,505	Details ->
Cost of Living Composite cost of living index (100 = national average). Lower = more affordable.	138.5	148.8	Details ->
Median Housing Value Median residential home value in U.S. dollars.	$693,700	$510,400	Details ->
Property Tax Effective real-estate property tax rate (% of home value, WalletHub February 17, 2026 using 2024 data).	0.70%	1.07%	Details ->
State Income Tax Top marginal state income tax rate. 0% = no state income tax.	13.30%	5.00%	Details ->
Minimum Wage State minimum wage in U.S. dollars per hour (U.S. Department of Labor, updated January 1, 2026).	$16.50/hr	$15.00/hr	Details ->
Gas Price Average regular gasoline price by state (AAA State Gas Price Averages, updated daily).	$5.929/gal	$3.933/gal	Details ->
Electricity Rates Average residential electricity price in cents per kWh (EIA monthly state data, January 2026 preliminary).	30.29 c/kWh	31.16 c/kWh	Details ->
Livability Score Best States to Live In total score (August 11, 2025).	50.49	60.23	Details ->
Average Temperature Average annual statewide temperature in degrees Fahrenheit.	59.4°F	47.9°F	Details ->
Sunny Days Average number of sunny or mostly sunny days per year.	146 days	98 days	Details ->
Land Area Total land area in square miles.	163,696 sq mi	10,554 sq mi	Details ->
Population Density Number of residents per square mile.	241.5 per sq mi	666.1 per sq mi	Details ->
Statehood When the state was admitted to the Union and its admission order.	September 9, 1850 (#31)	February 6, 1788 (#6)	Details ->

Population -> Median Income -> Cost of Living -> Median Housing Value -> Property Tax -> State Income Tax -> Minimum Wage -> Gas Price -> Electricity Rates -> Livability Score -> Average Temperature -> Sunny Days -> Land Area -> Population Density ->

Metric	CA	MA	Deep dive
Population Total resident population (2020 Census).	39,538,223	7,029,917	Details ->
Population Density Number of residents per square mile.	241.5 per sq mi	666.1 per sq mi	Details ->
Bachelor's Degree Adults age 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher (ACS 2023).	37.5%	47.8%	Details ->
Advanced Degree Adults age 25+ with a graduate or professional degree (ACS 2023).	14.7%	22.4%	Details ->

Population -> Population Density -> Bachelor's Degree -> Advanced Degree ->

Metric	CA	MA	Deep dive
Minimum Wage State minimum wage in U.S. dollars per hour (U.S. Department of Labor, updated January 1, 2026).	$16.50/hr	$15.00/hr	Details ->

Minimum Wage ->

Metric	CA	MA	Deep dive
Livability Score Best States to Live In total score (August 11, 2025).	50.49	60.23	Details ->
Best State to Live In Composite living score for comparing states to live in, based on the existing livability score.	50.49	60.23	Details ->
Cost of Living Composite cost of living index (100 = national average). Lower = more affordable.	138.5	148.8	Details ->
Gas Price Average regular gasoline price by state (AAA State Gas Price Averages, updated daily).	$5.929/gal	$3.933/gal	Details ->
Gas Tax State gasoline excise tax in cents per gallon. Lower = lower state fuel tax burden.	54.00 c/gal	24.00 c/gal	Details ->
Electricity Rates Average residential electricity price in cents per kWh (EIA monthly state data, January 2026 preliminary).	30.29 c/kWh	31.16 c/kWh	Details ->
Commute Time Average commute time in minutes.	28.4 min	30.4 min	Details ->

Livability Score -> Best State to Live In -> Cost of Living -> Gas Price -> Gas Tax -> Electricity Rates -> Commute Time ->

Metric	CA	MA	Deep dive
Average Temperature Average annual statewide temperature in degrees Fahrenheit.	59.4°F	47.9°F	Details ->
Summer Temperature Average statewide summer temperature across June, July, and August.	73.4°F	68.0°F	Details ->
Winter Temperature Average statewide winter temperature across December, January, and February.	46.2°F	27.4°F	Details ->
Sunny Days Average number of sunny or mostly sunny days per year.	146 days	98 days	Details ->
Annual Precipitation Average annual rain and snowfall combined, measured in inches.	22.2 in	47.7 in	Details ->

Average Temperature -> Summer Temperature -> Winter Temperature -> Sunny Days -> Annual Precipitation ->

Metric	CA	MA	Deep dive
Median Housing Value Median residential home value in U.S. dollars.	$693,700	$510,400	Details ->
Median Gross Rent Median gross monthly rent in U.S. dollars.	$1,856/mo	$1,678/mo	Details ->
Median Monthly Owner Costs With Mortgage Median selected monthly owner costs for households with a mortgage.	-	-	Details ->
Owner Costs Without Mortgage Median selected monthly owner costs for households without a mortgage.	-	-	Details ->
Homeownership Rate Share of occupied housing units that are owner-occupied.	55.8%	62.8%	Details ->
Home Value to Income Ratio Median home value divided by median household income.	8.25x	5.29x	Details ->
Rent to Income Ratio Annualized median gross rent as a share of median household income.	26.5%	20.9%	Details ->
Owner Costs to Income Median selected monthly owner costs as a percentage of household income (ACS 2023).	21.0%	19.5%	Details ->

Median Housing Value -> Median Gross Rent -> Median Monthly Owner Costs With Mortgage -> Owner Costs Without Mortgage -> Homeownership Rate -> Home Value to Income Ratio -> Rent to Income Ratio -> Owner Costs to Income ->

Metric	CA	MA	Deep dive
State Income Tax Top marginal state income tax rate. 0% = no state income tax.	13.30%	5.00%	Details ->
State Sales Tax State-level sales tax rate. 0% = no state sales tax (local taxes may apply).	7.25%	6.25%	Details ->
Property Tax Effective real-estate property tax rate (% of home value, WalletHub February 17, 2026 using 2024 data).	0.70%	1.07%	Details ->

State Income Tax -> State Sales Tax -> Property Tax ->

Metric	CA	MA	Deep dive
State Color Simple political color label based on the 2024 presidential result and battleground status.	Solid Blue	Solid Blue	Details ->
Presidential Voting Margin Signed 2024 presidential margin in percentage points (positive = Democratic, negative = Republican).	Dem +20.10	Dem +25.20	Details ->
Swing State / Battleground Whether the state was part of the core 2024 battleground map.	Not a battleground	Not a battleground	Details ->
Governor Party Current governor's party (NCSL partisan composition, January 27, 2026).	Democratic	Democratic	Details ->
State House Control Current partisan control of the lower legislative chamber (NCSL, January 27, 2026).	Democratic	Democratic	Details ->
State Senate Control Current partisan control of the upper legislative chamber (NCSL, January 27, 2026).	Democratic	Democratic	Details ->
Trifecta Whether one party controls the governorship and both legislative chambers (NCSL, January 27, 2026).	Democratic Trifecta	Democratic Trifecta	Details ->

Presidential Voting Margin ->

Metric	CA	MA	Deep dive
Gun Laws Status Simplified statewide gun-law label based on current Giffords grades: A to B = Restrictive, C to F = Permissive (scorecard modified February 20, 2026).	Restrictive	Restrictive	Details ->
Alcohol Laws Whether the state uses a control-state or license-state model for distilled-spirit sales (NABCA directory accessed April 6, 2026).	License State	License State	Details ->
Marijuana Legalization Current statewide marijuana status: Legal, Medical, or Illegal (NCSL state cannabis laws page updated June 27, 2025).	Legal	Legal	Details ->
Minimum Marriage Age Minimum marriage age with statutory exceptions. California has no statutory minimum age.	No statutory minimum	18 (banned)	Details ->

Minimum Marriage Age ->

Metric	CA	MA	Deep dive
Land Area Total land area in square miles.	163,696 sq mi	10,554 sq mi	Details ->
Highest Point Highest natural point in the state, with summit elevation.	Mount Whitney (14,505 ft)	Mount Greylock (3,491 ft)	Details ->
Statehood When the state was admitted to the Union and its admission order.	September 9, 1850 (#31)	February 6, 1788 (#6)	Details ->
Capital City The official state capital.	Sacramento	Boston	Details ->
Region U.S. Census Bureau geographic region.	West	Northeast	Details ->

Land Area -> Highest Point ->

Metric	CA	MA	Deep dive
Life Expectancy Life expectancy at birth in years (CDC 2021).	79.2 yrs	80.0 yrs	Details ->
Older Adult Health Outcomes Composite score for comparing state health outcomes for older adults, using life expectancy, insurance coverage, and obesity prevalence.	74.7	88.9	Details ->
Uninsured Rate Share of residents without health insurance coverage.	6.4%	2.6%	Details ->
Obesity Rate Adult obesity prevalence.	29.1%	27.0%	Details ->

Life Expectancy -> Older Adult Health Outcomes -> Uninsured Rate -> Obesity Rate ->

Metric	CA	MA	Deep dive
Violent Crime Rate Violent crime incidents per 100,000 residents (FBI UCR 2022).	499.5	283.3	Details ->
Property Crime Rate Property crime incidents per 100,000 residents.	2387.5	1086.4	Details ->

Violent Crime Rate -> Property Crime Rate ->

Metric	CA	MA	Deep dive
K-12 Education Rank US News Best States K-12 education sub-ranking (1 = best, 50 = worst).	#32	#1	Details ->
High School Graduation Rate 4-year adjusted cohort graduation rate for public high schools (NCES).	84.0%	89.0%	Details ->
Student-Teacher Ratio Average number of pupils per teacher in public K-12 schools (NCES).	22.2:1	13.1:1	Details ->

K-12 Education Rank -> High School Graduation Rate -> Student-Teacher Ratio ->

Metric	CA	MA	Deep dive
Median Income Median household income in U.S. dollars.	$84,097	$96,505	Details ->
Regional Price Parity Official price level relative to the national average (100 = U.S. average).	113.4	110.4	Details ->
Purchasing Power of $100 Real local value of $100 after adjusting for BEA Regional Price Parities.	$92.31	$95.55	Details ->
Poverty Rate Share of residents below the federal poverty line (ACS 2023).	12.0%	10.4%	Details ->
Employment/Population Ratio Employed civilian population as a share of the adult population (ACS 2023).	60.2%	64.4%	Details ->
Unemployment Rate Seasonally adjusted unemployment rate (BLS, December 2025).	5.5%	4.8%	Details ->
Job Growth Change in total nonfarm payroll employment from December 2024 to December 2025 (BLS).	-0.1%	0.0%	Details ->

Median Income -> Regional Price Parity -> Purchasing Power of $100 -> Poverty Rate -> Employment/Population Ratio -> Unemployment Rate -> Job Growth ->

Metric	CA	MA	Deep dive
Hurricane Risk Relative hurricane exposure based on FEMA National Risk Index (None / Low / Moderate / High / Very High).	None	Moderate	Details ->
Tornado Risk Relative tornado exposure based on FEMA National Risk Index (None / Low / Moderate / High / Very High).	Low	Low	Details ->
Earthquake Risk Relative seismic exposure based on FEMA National Risk Index (None / Low / Moderate / High / Very High).	Very High	Low	Details ->
Wildfire Risk Relative wildfire exposure based on FEMA National Risk Index (None / Low / Moderate / High / Very High).	Very High	Low	Details ->

Metric	CA	MA	Deep dive
Retirement Score Composite score for comparing states for retirement, combining affordability, taxes, housing, health, safety, and winter climate.	47.0	56.2	Details ->

Retirement Score ->

Intent-Oriented

Which state fits your priorities better?

Use these cards as decision shortcuts for common goals like saving money, buying a home, finding better weather, or optimizing for work and family life.

6 of 16 shown

Saving Money

California is cheaper overall

Overall cost-of-living index: 138.5 vs 148.8 in Massachusetts. On a national baseline of 100, the lower score usually means cheaper day-to-day expenses.

See full data

Gas Price

Massachusetts is cheaper at the pump

Average regular gas price: $3.933/gal in Massachusetts vs $5.929/gal in California. Lower pump prices can cut everyday driving costs.

See full data

Minimum Wage

California has the higher minimum wage

State minimum wage: $16.50/hr in California vs $15.00/hr in Massachusetts. That matters most for hourly, entry-level, and part-time workers.

See full data

Electricity Rates

California has cheaper electricity

Average residential electricity rate: 30.29 c/kWh in California vs 31.16 c/kWh in Massachusetts. Lower cents-per-kWh pricing can help keep utility bills down.

See full data

Buying a Home

Massachusetts is more attainable for buyers

Home-value-to-income ratio: 5.29x in Massachusetts vs 8.25x in California. A lower ratio means the median home is easier to afford on a median income.

See full data

Renting

Massachusetts is easier for renters

Rent-to-income ratio: 20.9% in Massachusetts vs 26.5% in California. A lower percentage means rent takes a smaller bite out of a typical household budget.

See full data

Explore by Category

Dive Deeper

Each link opens a full one-on-one breakdown for that metric — national rankings, charts, and context.

Population

California has a larger population than Massachusetts by 32,508,306 people.

Population Density

Massachusetts is more densely populated than California.

Bachelor's Degree

Massachusetts has a higher college-educated share than California.

Advanced Degree

Massachusetts has a higher advanced-degree share than California.

California vs Massachusetts - Common Questions

Q Is California cheaper to live in than Massachusetts?

California has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), California scores 138.5 versus 148.8 for Massachusetts - a gap of 10.3 points.

Q Where does $100 go further - California or Massachusetts?

$100 goes further in Massachusetts. After BEA regional price adjustments, $100 is worth about $95.55 in Massachusetts, compared with $92.31 in California.

Q Which state is bigger - California or Massachusetts?

California is larger, covering 163,696 sq mi compared with 10,554 sq mi for Massachusetts - roughly 15.5x the size.

Q Does California or Massachusetts have more people?

California has the larger population at 39,538,223, compared with 7,029,917 in Massachusetts.

Q Which state has higher household income - California or Massachusetts?

Massachusetts has the higher median household income at $96,505, versus $84,097 in California.

Q Which state has lower income taxes - California or Massachusetts?

Massachusetts has the lower state income tax top rate at 5.00%, compared with 13.30% in California.

Q Is housing cheaper in California or Massachusetts?

Homes are cheaper in Massachusetts, where the median home value is $510,400, versus $693,700 in California.

Q Which state is more densely populated - California or Massachusetts?

Massachusetts is more densely populated at 666.1 per sq mi people per sq mi. California is more spread out at 241.5 per sq mi people per sq mi.

Related Comparisons

Alaska vs Massachusetts

Arizona vs Massachusetts

California vs Connecticut

California vs Maine

Methodology

All figures are sourced from U.S. government datasets and updated annually. Page last updated: April 2026.

Core demographic data comes from the 2020 U.S. Census, with land area from U.S. Census Bureau TIGER files and statehood dates from the National Archives. Income, housing, affordability, and tax fields are maintained in our comparison dataset; purchasing-power figures use BEA Regional Price Parities. Minimum wage data comes from the U.S. Department of Labor, gas prices from AAA, and electricity rates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Political control and election fields use 2024 presidential results together with National Conference of State Legislatures data. Gun-law labels use the Giffords scorecard, alcohol system data comes from NABCA, and marijuana status uses NCSL's state cannabis laws tracker. See our editorial policy for how we review and update these pages.

California vs Massachusetts

Quality of Life

Key differences overview

California is 10.3 points cheaper overall

$100 goes $3.24 further in Massachusetts

Massachusetts income is 14.8% higher

California minimum wage is $1.50 higher

California homes cost about 1.4x more

Massachusetts has lower state income tax

What's Your Salary Really Worth?

Pros and cons for each state

California

Pros: California

Cons

Massachusetts

Pros: Massachusetts

Cons

Full Comparison

Which state fits your priorities better?

California is cheaper overall

Massachusetts is cheaper at the pump

California has the higher minimum wage

California has cheaper electricity

Massachusetts is more attainable for buyers

Massachusetts is easier for renters

California has lower property taxes

Massachusetts votes bluer

Massachusetts has lower income taxes

California feels less crowded

California has the shorter commute

Massachusetts looks better for job seekers

Massachusetts looks better for remote workers

Massachusetts looks better for families

California is warmer overall

California gets more sun

Dive Deeper

California vs Massachusetts - Common Questions

Q Is California cheaper to live in than Massachusetts?

Q Where does $100 go further - California or Massachusetts?

Q Which state is bigger - California or Massachusetts?

Q Does California or Massachusetts have more people?

Q Which state has higher household income - California or Massachusetts?

Q Which state has lower income taxes - California or Massachusetts?

Q Is housing cheaper in California or Massachusetts?

Q Which state is more densely populated - California or Massachusetts?

Related Comparisons

Methodology