California
- After state tax
- —
- Housing / month
- —
- Left after housing
- —
- Cost-adjusted remainder
- —
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
14 / 33
metrics won
VS
Massachusetts
MA · Northeast
19 / 33
metrics won
Winner
MA wins Housing
CA wins Quality of Life
CA wins Climate
MA wins Income
MA wins Demographics
MA wins Taxes
Continue with the moving guides:
Living in California
Living in Massachusetts
All 50 states
State Match
CA 14
19 MA
What matters to you?
Tell us your priority, get a verdict
Your match
Massachusetts fits you better
Massachusetts wins 19 of 33 scored metrics against California.
Your match — Saving Money
California is cheaper overall
Cost-of-living index: 138.5 in California vs 148.8 in Massachusetts. On a national baseline of 100, the lower score usually means cheaper day-to-day expenses. See full data →
Your match — Jobs
California has the higher minimum wage
State minimum wage: $16.50/hr in California vs $15.00/hr in Massachusetts. Matters most for hourly and entry-level work. See full data →
Your match — Housing
Massachusetts is more attainable for buyers
Home-value-to-income ratio: 5.29x in Massachusetts vs 8.25x in California. Lower means the median home is easier to afford on a median income. See full data →
Your match — Weather
California is warmer overall
Average annual temperature: 59.4°F in California vs 47.9°F in Massachusetts. See full data →
Your match — Family & Health
Massachusetts looks better for families
Massachusetts wins more family-oriented signals in this matchup, including violent crime rate, life expectancy, uninsured rate, compared with California. See full data →
Run the numbers
What's your salary really worth?
Massachusetts
- After state tax
- —
- Housing / month
- —
- Left after housing
- —
- Cost-adjusted remainder
- —
Illustrative estimate only. Uses top marginal state income tax rate, BEA Regional Price Parity, and median housing costs — excludes federal tax, utilities, insurance, childcare, and debt.
Full comparison
Every metric, side by side
Pick a category. Each row opens the full breakdown for that metric — national rank, chart, and sourcing.
Capital City
Sacramento
vs
Boston
State Color
Solid Blue
vs
Solid Blue
Population
39,345,844
7,169,608
Median Income
$84,097
$96,505
Cost of Living
138.5
148.8
Median Housing Value
$693,700
$510,400
Property Tax
0.70%
1.07%
State Income Tax
13.30%
5.00%
Minimum Wage
$16.50/hr
$15.00/hr
Gas Price
$5.929/gal
$3.933/gal
Electricity Rates
30.29 c/kWh
31.16 c/kWh
Livability Score
50.49
60.23
Average Temperature
59.4°F
47.9°F
Sunny Days
146 days
98 days
Land Area
163,696 sq mi
10,554 sq mi
Population Density
240.4 per sq mi
679.3 per sq mi
Statehood
September 9, 1850 (#31)
February 6, 1788 (#6)
Population
39,345,844
7,169,608
Population Density
240.4 per sq mi
679.3 per sq mi
Bachelor's Degree
37.5%
47.8%
Advanced Degree
14.7%
22.4%
Net Domestic Migration
-229,100
-33,300
Population Growth Since 2020
-0.5%
+2.0%
Livability Score
50.49
60.23
Best State to Live In
50.49
60.23
Cost of Living
138.5
148.8
Gas Price
$5.929/gal
$3.933/gal
Gas Tax
54.00 c/gal
24.00 c/gal
Electricity Rates
30.29 c/kWh
31.16 c/kWh
Commute Time
28.4 min
30.4 min
Car Insurance Cost
$2,567/yr
$2,114/yr
Average Credit Score
721
731
Average Temperature
59.4°F
47.9°F
Summer Temperature
73.4°F
68.0°F
Winter Temperature
46.2°F
27.4°F
Sunny Days
146 days
98 days
Annual Precipitation
22.2 in
47.7 in
Average Wind Speed
7.0 mph
8.4 mph
Lightning Density
3.6 per sq mi
9.0 per sq mi
Median Housing Value
$693,700
$510,400
Median Gross Rent
$1,856/mo
$1,678/mo
Median Monthly Owner Costs With Mortgage
$3,001/mo
$2,755/mo
Owner Costs Without Mortgage
$882/mo
$1,069/mo
Homeownership Rate
55.8%
62.8%
Home Value to Income Ratio
8.25x
5.29x
Rent to Income Ratio
26.5%
20.9%
Owner Costs to Income
21.0%
19.5%
Home Insurance Cost
$1,348/yr
$2,066/yr
State Income Tax
13.30%
5.00%
State Sales Tax
7.25%
6.25%
Property Tax
0.70%
1.07%
Total Tax Burden
9.24%
8.82%
Grocery Tax Rate
0% (Exempt)
0% (Exempt)
Estate and Inheritance Tax
No State Death Tax
vs
Estate Tax Only
Annual Vehicle Property Tax
No
vs
Yes
State Color
Solid Blue
vs
Solid Blue
Presidential Voting Margin
Dem +20.10
Dem +25.20
Swing State / Battleground
Not a battleground
vs
Not a battleground
Governor Party
Democratic
vs
Democratic
State House Control
Democratic
vs
Democratic
State Senate Control
Democratic
vs
Democratic
Trifecta
Democratic Trifecta
vs
Democratic Trifecta
Electoral Votes
54
11
Gun Laws Status
Restrictive
vs
Restrictive
Alcohol Laws
License State
vs
License State
Marijuana Legalization
Legal
vs
Legal
Minimum Marriage Age
No statutory minimum
18 (banned)
Gun Ownership
20.7%
12.6%
Abortion Law Status
Legal - Viability (~24 weeks (viability))
vs
Limited to 24-25 Weeks (24 weeks)
Right-to-Work Law
No
vs
No
Land Area
163,696 sq mi
10,554 sq mi
Highest Point
Mount Whitney (14,505 ft)
Mount Greylock (3,491 ft)
Statehood
September 9, 1850 (#31)
February 6, 1788 (#6)
Capital City
Sacramento
vs
Boston
Region
West
vs
Northeast
Life Expectancy
79.2 yrs
80.0 yrs
Older Adult Health Outcomes
74.7
88.9
Uninsured Rate
6.4%
2.6%
Obesity Rate
29.1%
27.0%
Healthcare Quality Score
71.6
79.9
Infant Mortality Rate
4.18 per 1,000
3.49 per 1,000
Drug Overdose Death Rate
21.7 per 100,000
21.8 per 100,000
Violent Crime Rate
499.5 per 100k
283.3 per 100k
Property Crime Rate
2387.5 per 100k
1086.4 per 100k
AZA-Accredited Zoos
25
6
Casinos
83 (Pechanga Resort Casino)
3 (Encore Boston Harbor)
UFO Sightings per 100,000
41.1 per 100K
28.3 per 100K
Most Popular Car
Tesla
vs
Toyota
K-12 Education Rank
#32
#1
High School Graduation Rate
84.0%
89.0%
Student-Teacher Ratio
22.2:1
13.1:1
School Spending
$20,233
$22,947
Teacher Salary
$103,552
$93,554
Public School Ranking
#8
#3
Student Loan Debt
$38,300
$35,400
College Graduation Rate
60.2%
66.7%
Median Income
$84,097
$96,505
Regional Price Parity
113.4
110.4
Purchasing Power of $100
$92.31
$95.55
Poverty Rate
12.0%
10.4%
Employment/Population Ratio
60.2%
64.4%
Unemployment Rate
5.5%
4.8%
Job Growth
-0.1%
0.0%
Infant Childcare Cost
$21,945/yr
$26,709/yr
Income Needed to Live Alone
$119,475/yr
$120,141/yr
Water Quality Score
83.7/100 (A)
87.3/100 (A)
Annual Power Outage Hours
4.7 hours/yr
1.7 hours/yr
Road Quality Rank
#47
#39
Renewable Electricity Share
43.6%
16.7%
Largest Airport
Los Angeles International (LAX)
vs
Logan International (BOS)
Tradeoffs
Pros and cons for each state
The biggest advantages and drawbacks pulled from affordability, housing, income, taxes, safety, health, education, jobs, and weather.
California
Pros
- 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
Pros
- 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.
People also ask
California vs Massachusetts — common questions
QIs 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.
QWhere 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.
QWhich 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.
QDoes California or Massachusetts have more people?
California has the larger population at 39,345,844, compared with 7,169,608 in Massachusetts.
QWhich state has higher household income - California or Massachusetts?
Massachusetts has the higher median household income at $96,505, versus $84,097 in California.
QWhich 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.
QIs housing cheaper in California or Massachusetts?
Homes are cheaper in Massachusetts, where the median home value is $510,400, versus $693,700 in California.
QWhich state is more densely populated - California or Massachusetts?
Massachusetts is more densely populated at 679.3 per sq mi people per sq mi. California is more spread out at 240.4 per sq mi people per sq mi.
Related comparisons
Methodology
Figures combine government datasets, named research sources, and clearly labeled derived scores. Dataset reviewed July 23, 2026.
Demographics & geography
2020 Census, American Community Survey, TIGER/Line Files, National Archives
Income, housing & cost of living
American Community Survey, BLS, BEA Regional Price Parities, and named market studies
Wages & energy
U.S. Department of Labor, AAA, U.S. EIA
Politics & law
NCSL, Giffords Law Center, NABCA
Data periods differ by metric. Open any individual comparison metric to see its primary source, data period, review date, and calculation note. Daily-changing fields such as gas prices are stored snapshots unless the page explicitly says a live feed is used.
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau — 2020 Census
- U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
- U.S. Census Bureau — TIGER/Line Files
- National Archives
- BEA — Regional Price Parities
- BLS — State Labor Market Data
- NOAA — U.S. Climate Normals
- FBI — Crime Data Explorer
- FEMA — National Risk Index
- U.S. Department of Labor — State Minimum Wage Laws
- AAA — Gas Prices
- U.S. Energy Information Administration — Electricity
- NCSL — State Partisan Composition
- Giffords Law Center — Annual Gun Law Scorecard
- NABCA
- NCSL — State Medical Cannabis Laws
See our editorial policy for how we review and update these pages.