Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in Suffolk County, MA would need to be about $34,095 in Hampshire County, MA, or $15,905 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
Suffolk County, MA vs Hampshire County, MA: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Hampshire County, MA is cheaper than Suffolk County, MA.
Moving to Hampshire County, MA is estimated to save $26,007 per year.
Cheaper County
Hampshire County, MASave about $26,007 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in Suffolk County, MA is about $34,095 in Hampshire County, MA.
Biggest drivers
Transport increases by $143 per year. Housing saves $13,381 per year.
Housing: $13,381 lower in Hampshire County, MA
Taxes: $8,851 lower in Hampshire County, MA
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $115 higher in Hampshire County, MA
Food: $92 higher in Hampshire County, MA
Transport: $143 higher in Hampshire County, MA
Suffolk County, MA→Hampshire County, MA
Equivalent salary in Hampshire County, MA
$34,095
-31.81% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Suffolk County, MA: $110,193
Median Income in Hampshire County, MA: $116,070
Living Index in Suffolk County, MA 74.20%
Living Index in Hampshire County, MA 48.04%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Suffolk County, MA to Hampshire County, MA.
* Living index is estimated as (estimated total cost / area median income) * 100. A living index above 100% means modeled costs exceed median income.
Cost of Living Breakdown by Category
Summary
Moving from Suffolk County, MA to Hampshire County, MA is estimated to save $26,007 per year. A $50,000 salary in Suffolk County, MA would have similar purchasing power to about $34,095 in Hampshire County, MA. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.
This is a -31.81% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $13,381 per year lower (-47.92%); Taxes is $8,851 per year lower (-43.49%).
Below we break down the annual categories behind the difference using Economic Policy Institute 2026 Family Budget data.
Why this comparison matters
These notes use the actual annual cost differences between Suffolk County, MA and Hampshire County, MA, so the page highlights the budget tradeoffs behind the total.
Affordability vs median income
Modeled annual costs equal about 74.2% of median family income in Suffolk County, MA and 48.0% in Hampshire County, MA. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.
Housing
Housing is $13,381 per year lower in Hampshire County, MA than in Suffolk County, MA. Housing usually behaves like a fixed monthly commitment, so this matters most for renters or buyers checking whether Hampshire County, MA changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $92 per year higher in Hampshire County, MA than in Suffolk County, MA. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Hampshire County, MA can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation
Transportation is $143 per year higher in Hampshire County, MA than in Suffolk County, MA. Transportation matters for commuters because driving distance, vehicle costs, and transit access can change how much of a salary is left after getting around Hampshire County, MA.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $115 per year higher in Hampshire County, MA than in Suffolk County, MA. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Hampshire County, MA changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities
Other necessities is $4,126 per year lower in Hampshire County, MA than in Suffolk County, MA. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Hampshire County, MA help explain the non-housing costs that can quietly add up month after month.
Childcare
Childcare is about the same in Suffolk County, MA and Hampshire County, MA, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Hampshire County, MA, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes
Taxes is $8,851 per year lower in Hampshire County, MA than in Suffolk County, MA. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Hampshire County, MA matters even if the headline salary looks similar before deductions.
What changed the most?
The following cards show the annual category differences that most affect the move to Hampshire County, MA.
Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Hampshire County, MA
Annual Increase:
$143 per year
TRANSPORT has the largest annual increase when moving to Hampshire County, MA.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Hampshire County, MA
Annual Savings:
$13,381 per year
HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to Hampshire County, MA.
Breakdown of price percentages per category.
Numbers are average costs per section.
| Category | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | -48% lower | |
| Food | 2% higher | |
| Transport | 1% higher | |
| Healthcare | 2% higher | |
| Other Costs | -40% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -43% lower |
In Hampshire County, MA, modeled annual costs are $55,758 compared with $81,765 in Suffolk County, MA.
Overall, annual costs are lower in Hampshire County, MA. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.
In this case Hampshire County, MA and Suffolk County, MA are both metropolitan locations.
Use our map to visually compare multiple counties at once.
