Moving to Massachusetts from Kentucky
What to Expect
Considering a move from Kentucky to Massachusetts? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Kentucky to Massachusetts, you would find that Massachusetts is 32.4% more expensive than Kentucky. A $75,000 salary in Kentucky would need to be roughly $101,132 in Massachusetts to maintain the same lifestyle. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Boston averages 59°F vs 69°F in Bowling Green, making it significantly cooler.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Kentucky and Massachusetts.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → $101,132
To maintain the same standard of living in Massachusetts
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 22.4% more
Groceries
pay 22.9% more
Transportation
pay 23.6% more
Housing
pay 54.8% more
Childcare
pay 46.8% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 46.7% more
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Massachusetts compared to Kentucky.
Is it safe?
incidents per 100,000 people per year
incidents per 100,000 people per year
Kentucky generally does better on safety, though Massachusetts leads in property crime rate.
How's the healthcare?
share of people without health insurance
share of adults with obesity
share of adults with diabetes
share of adults who smoke
Massachusetts performs significantly better than Kentucky across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What about housing?
typical price of a home
typical monthly gross rent
share of homes that are owner-occupied
Kentucky performs better than Massachusetts across all what about housing? metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
minutes each way to work
Kentucky generally does better on infrastructure, though Massachusetts leads in internet access.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
typical annual income of a household
share of people below the poverty line
Massachusetts generally does better on employment & economy, though Kentucky leads in unemployment rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
share of adults with a 4-year college degree
Massachusetts performs significantly better than Kentucky across all family life metrics.
Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), FBI Uniform Crime Reporting, OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Bowling Green | Boston |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 52°/31°F (11°/-1°C) | 40°/26°F (4°/-3°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 78°/55°F (25°/13°C) | 66°/50°F (19°/10°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 87°/64°F (30°/18°C) | 78°/62°F (25°/17°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 59°/38°F (15°/3°C) | 51°/38°F (11°/3°C) |
View all months
| Month | Bowling Green | Boston |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 45°/26°F (7.2°/-3.1°C) | 36°/22°F (2.1°/-5.4°C) |
| Feb | 50°/30°F (10.0°/-1.3°C) | 39°/25°F (3.7°/-4.1°C) |
| Mar | 60°/37°F (15.4°/2.8°C) | 45°/31°F (7.4°/-0.5°C) |
| Apr | 70°/46°F (20.9°/7.6°C) | 56°/41°F (13.1°/4.8°C) |
| May | 78°/55°F (25.4°/12.8°C) | 66°/50°F (18.9°/9.9°C) |
| Jun | 86°/64°F (30.1°/17.7°C) | 76°/60°F (24.4°/15.3°C) |
| Jul | 89°/68°F (31.9°/19.9°C) | 81°/65°F (27.4°/18.6°C) |
| Aug | 89°/66°F (31.6°/18.9°C) | 80°/65°F (26.4°/18.1°C) |
| Sep | 82°/58°F (27.8°/14.4°C) | 72°/57°F (22.4°/14.1°C) |
| Oct | 71°/46°F (21.8°/7.9°C) | 61°/47°F (16.3°/8.1°C) |
| Nov | 59°/38°F (15.2°/3.1°C) | 51°/38°F (10.8°/3.3°C) |
| Dec | 48°/29°F (8.8°/-1.6°C) | 41°/28°F (5.1°/-2.1°C) |
Data:
National Weather Service
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Massachusetts than Kentucky?
On average Massachusetts is around 35% pricier than Kentucky, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to Massachusetts?
Budget about $25,283 for 3 months in Massachusetts (based on a $75,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: movers, a truck rental, and a rental deposit.
Is Massachusetts safe?
Kentucky generally does better on safety, though Massachusetts leads in property crime rate.
How is healthcare in Massachusetts compared to Kentucky?
Massachusetts performs significantly better than Kentucky across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Massachusetts compared to Kentucky?
The average high temperature in Boston is 59°F, compared to 69°F in Bowling Green. Boston receives around 43.8 in of rainfall per year, while Bowling Green gets 49.9 in.
