Massachusetts
MA • Northeast
Quality of Life Score
60.23
State Comparison
Massachusetts vs Texas
Texas is cheaper overall, while $100 goes further in Texas, Massachusetts has higher incomes, Texas has lower state income tax, and Texas gets more sunshine.
Massachusetts
12
/ 30
metrics won
Score
VS
Texas
18
/ 30
metrics won
TX wins Housing
TX wins Quality of Life
TX wins Climate
MA wins Income
Quality of Life
Composite score — income, affordability, education, health, and safety.
Massachusetts
winner
vs
Texas
Massachusetts scores higher on quality of life — 13.02 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
Texas is 54.5 points cheaper overall
Texas has the lower cost-of-living index. Texas is at 94.3, while Massachusetts is at 148.8.
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Real Dollar Value
$100 goes $13.62 further in Texas
After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $109.17 of local buying power in Texas, versus $95.55 in Massachusetts.
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Income
Massachusetts income is 44.1% higher
Massachusetts has the higher median household income at $96,505, compared with $66,963 in Texas.
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Jobs
Massachusetts minimum wage is $7.75 higher
Massachusetts has the higher statewide minimum wage at $15.00/hr, compared with $7.25/hr in Texas.
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Housing
Massachusetts homes cost about 1.7x more
Texas has the lower median home value at $294,400, versus $510,400 in Massachusetts.
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Taxes
Texas has lower state income tax
Texas has the lower state income tax rate. Its top rate is 0.00%, compared with 5.00% in Massachusetts.
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Massachusetts
- Gross salary
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- State income tax (top rate 5.0%)
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- After state tax
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- Real buying power (BEA RPP)
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Texas
- Gross salary
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- State income tax (none)
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- After state tax
- —
- Real buying power (BEA RPP)
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Cost-of-Living Equivalent
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* "After state tax" uses the top marginal rate — actual effective rate is lower for most incomes. Real buying power uses BEA Regional Price Parity (110.4 for Massachusetts, 97.2 for Texas). 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.
Massachusetts
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: Massachusetts
- Massachusetts shows higher median income.
- Massachusetts has lower property tax rates on average.
- Massachusetts has a lower violent crime rate.
- Massachusetts health access/outcomes proxy is higher.
- Massachusetts health coverage access proxy is stronger.
- Massachusetts education proxy is higher.
Cons
- Massachusetts has a higher overall cost of living.
- Massachusetts has a higher housing cost index.
- Massachusetts has higher median home values.
- Massachusetts job growth trend is weaker.
- Massachusetts has fewer sunny days.
Texas
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: Texas
- Texas has a lower overall cost of living.
- Texas has a lower housing cost index.
- Texas has lower median home values.
- Texas job growth trend is stronger.
- Texas has more sunny days.
Cons
- Texas shows lower median income.
- Texas has higher property tax rates on average.
- Texas has a higher violent crime rate.
- Texas health access/outcomes proxy is lower.
- Texas health coverage access proxy is weaker.
- Texas education proxy is lower.
Full Comparison
Pick a category to focus on. General shows the most important facts at a glance.
| Metric |
MA
|
TX
|
|---|---|---|
|
Capital City
|
Boston | Austin |
|
State Color
|
Solid Blue | Solid Red |
|
Population
|
7,029,917
|
29,145,505
|
|
Median Income
|
$96,505
|
$66,963
|
|
Cost of Living
|
148.8
|
94.3
|
|
Median Housing Value
|
$510,400
|
$294,400
|
|
Property Tax
|
1.07%
|
1.49%
|
|
State Income Tax
|
5.00%
|
None (0%)
|
|
Minimum Wage
|
$15.00/hr
|
$7.25/hr
|
|
Gas Price
|
$3.933/gal
|
$3.824/gal
|
|
Electricity Rates
|
31.16 c/kWh
|
15.69 c/kWh
|
|
Livability Score
|
60.23
|
47.21
|
|
Average Temperature
|
47.9°F
|
64.8°F
|
|
Sunny Days
|
98 days
|
135 days
|
|
Land Area
|
10,554 sq mi
|
268,596 sq mi
|
|
Population Density
|
666.1 per sq mi
|
108.5 per sq mi
|
|
Statehood
|
February 6, 1788 (#6)
|
December 29, 1845 (#28)
|
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
18
shown
Saving Money
Texas is cheaper overall
Overall cost-of-living index: 94.3 vs 148.8 in Massachusetts. On a national baseline of 100, the lower score usually means cheaper day-to-day expenses.
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Gas Price
Texas is cheaper at the pump
Average regular gas price: $3.824/gal in Texas vs $3.933/gal in Massachusetts. Lower pump prices can cut everyday driving costs.
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Minimum Wage
Massachusetts has the higher minimum wage
State minimum wage: $15.00/hr in Massachusetts vs $7.25/hr in Texas. That matters most for hourly, entry-level, and part-time workers.
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Electricity Rates
Texas has cheaper electricity
Average residential electricity rate: 15.69 c/kWh in Texas vs 31.16 c/kWh in Massachusetts. Lower cents-per-kWh pricing can help keep utility bills down.
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Buying a Home
Texas is more attainable for buyers
Home-value-to-income ratio: 4.40x in Texas vs 5.29x in Massachusetts. A lower ratio means the median home is easier to afford on a median income.
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Renting
Massachusetts is easier for renters
Rent-to-income ratio: 20.9% in Massachusetts vs 22.1% in Texas. A lower percentage means rent takes a smaller bite out of a typical household budget.
See full dataExplore by Category
Dive Deeper
Each link opens a full one-on-one breakdown for that metric — national rankings, charts, and context.
Population
Texas has a larger population than Massachusetts by 22,115,588 people.
Population Density
Massachusetts is more densely populated than Texas.
Bachelor's Degree
Massachusetts has a higher college-educated share than Texas.
Advanced Degree
Massachusetts has a higher advanced-degree share than Texas.
People Also Ask
Massachusetts vs Texas - Common Questions
Q Is Massachusetts cheaper to live in than Texas?
Texas has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), Texas scores 94.3 versus 148.8 for Massachusetts - a gap of 54.5 points.
Q Where does $100 go further - Massachusetts or Texas?
$100 goes further in Texas. After BEA regional price adjustments, $100 is worth about $109.17 in Texas, compared with $95.55 in Massachusetts.
Q Which state is bigger - Massachusetts or Texas?
Texas is larger, covering 268,596 sq mi compared with 10,554 sq mi for Massachusetts - roughly 25.4x the size.
Q Does Massachusetts or Texas have more people?
Texas has the larger population at 29,145,505, compared with 7,029,917 in Massachusetts.
Q Which state has higher household income - Massachusetts or Texas?
Massachusetts has the higher median household income at $96,505, versus $66,963 in Texas.
Q Which state has lower income taxes - Massachusetts or Texas?
Texas has no state income tax, while Massachusetts charges up to 5.00%.
Q Is housing cheaper in Massachusetts or Texas?
Homes are cheaper in Texas, where the median home value is $294,400, versus $510,400 in Massachusetts.
Q Which state is more densely populated - Massachusetts or Texas?
Massachusetts is more densely populated at 666.1 per sq mi people per sq mi. Texas is more spread out at 108.5 per sq mi people per sq mi.
Related Comparisons
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.