Massachusetts
MA • Northeast
Better quality of life
Quality of Life Score
60.23
State Comparison
Massachusetts vs Rhode Island
Rhode Island is cheaper overall, while $100 goes further in Rhode Island, Massachusetts has higher incomes, Massachusetts has lower state income tax, and Rhode Island has the warmer climate.
VS
Rhode Island
RI • Northeast
Quality of Life Score
52.05
Massachusetts
15
/ 29
metrics won
Score
VS
Rhode Island
14
/ 29
metrics won
RI wins Housing
RI wins Quality of Life
MA wins Income
RI wins Climate
Quality of Life
Composite score — income, affordability, education, health, and safety.
Massachusetts
winner
vs
Rhode Island
Massachusetts scores higher on quality of life — 8.18 points difference.
Quick Take
Massachusetts vs Rhode Island
This quick read mixes affordability, housing, income, politics, density, and climate so the biggest tradeoffs show up fast.
- Rhode Island is about 6.8 times smaller than Massachusetts.
- Massachusetts has a larger population than Rhode Island by 5,932,538 people.
- Rhode Island has the lower cost-of-living index. Rhode Island is at 115.2, while Massachusetts is at 148.8.
- After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $100.83 of local buying power in Rhode Island, versus $95.55 in Massachusetts.
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
Rhode Island is 33.6 points cheaper overall
Rhode Island has the lower cost-of-living index. Rhode Island is at 115.2, while Massachusetts is at 148.8.
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Real Dollar Value
$100 goes $5.28 further in Rhode Island
After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $100.83 of local buying power in Rhode Island, versus $95.55 in Massachusetts.
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Income
Massachusetts income is 24.2% higher
Massachusetts has the higher median household income at $96,505, compared with $77,728 in Rhode Island.
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Jobs
Rhode Island has the higher minimum wage
Rhode Island has the higher statewide minimum wage at $15.00/hr, compared with $15.00/hr in Massachusetts.
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Housing
Massachusetts homes cost about 1.4x more
Rhode Island has the lower median home value at $371,600, versus $510,400 in Massachusetts.
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Taxes
Massachusetts has lower state income tax
Massachusetts has the lower state income tax rate. Its top rate is 5.00%, compared with 5.99% in Rhode Island.
View detailed comparisonFull Comparison
Pick a category to focus on. General shows the most important facts at a glance.
| Metric |
MA
|
RI
|
|---|---|---|
|
Capital City
|
Boston | Providence |
|
State Color
|
Solid Blue | Solid Blue |
|
Population
|
7,029,917
|
1,097,379
|
|
Median Income
|
$96,505
|
$77,728
|
|
Cost of Living
|
148.8
|
115.2
|
|
Median Housing Value
|
$510,400
|
$371,600
|
|
Property Tax
|
1.07%
|
1.21%
|
|
State Income Tax
|
5.00%
|
5.99%
|
|
Minimum Wage
|
$15.00/hr
|
$15.00/hr
|
|
Gas Price
|
$3.933/gal
|
$3.997/gal
|
|
Electricity Rates
|
31.16 c/kWh
|
30.14 c/kWh
|
|
Livability Score
|
60.23
|
52.05
|
|
Average Temperature
|
47.9°F
|
50.1°F
|
|
Sunny Days
|
98 days
|
98 days
|
|
Land Area
|
10,554 sq mi
|
1,545 sq mi
|
|
Population Density
|
666.1 per sq mi
|
710.3 per sq mi
|
|
Statehood
|
February 6, 1788 (#6)
|
May 29, 1790 (#13)
|
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
14
shown
Saving Money
Rhode Island is cheaper overall
Overall cost-of-living index: 115.2 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 $3.997/gal in Rhode Island. Lower pump prices can cut everyday driving costs.
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Electricity Rates
Rhode Island has cheaper electricity
Average residential electricity rate: 30.14 c/kWh in Rhode Island 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
Rhode Island is more attainable for buyers
Home-value-to-income ratio: 4.78x in Rhode Island 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
Rhode Island is easier for renters
Rent-to-income ratio: 19.4% in Rhode Island vs 20.9% in Massachusetts. A lower percentage means rent takes a smaller bite out of a typical household budget.
See full data
Property Tax
Massachusetts has lower property taxes
Effective property tax rate: 1.07% in Massachusetts vs 1.21% in Rhode Island. A lower rate usually means a smaller yearly tax bill relative to home value.
See full dataDetailed Metric Pages
Grouped tabs keep the deep-dive links tighter and easier to scan.
Population
Massachusetts has a larger population than Rhode Island by 5,932,538 people.
Population Density
Rhode Island is more densely populated than Massachusetts.
Bachelor's Degree
Massachusetts has a higher college-educated share than Rhode Island.
Advanced Degree
Massachusetts has a higher advanced-degree share than Rhode Island.
People Also Ask
Massachusetts vs Rhode Island - Common Questions
Q Is Massachusetts cheaper to live in than Rhode Island?
Rhode Island has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), Rhode Island scores 115.2 versus 148.8 for Massachusetts - a gap of 33.6 points.
Q Where does $100 go further - Massachusetts or Rhode Island?
$100 goes further in Rhode Island. After BEA regional price adjustments, $100 is worth about $100.83 in Rhode Island, compared with $95.55 in Massachusetts.
Q Which state is bigger - Massachusetts or Rhode Island?
Massachusetts is larger, covering 10,554 sq mi compared with 1,545 sq mi for Rhode Island - roughly 6.8x the size.
Q Does Massachusetts or Rhode Island have more people?
Massachusetts has the larger population at 7,029,917, compared with 1,097,379 in Rhode Island.
Q Which state has higher household income - Massachusetts or Rhode Island?
Massachusetts has the higher median household income at $96,505, versus $77,728 in Rhode Island.
Q Which state has lower income taxes - Massachusetts or Rhode Island?
Massachusetts has the lower state income tax top rate at 5.00%, compared with 5.99% in Rhode Island.
Q Is housing cheaper in Massachusetts or Rhode Island?
Homes are cheaper in Rhode Island, where the median home value is $371,600, versus $510,400 in Massachusetts.
Q Which state is more densely populated - Massachusetts or Rhode Island?
Rhode Island is more densely populated at 710.3 per sq mi people per sq mi. Massachusetts is more spread out at 666.1 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.