Massachusetts Ranks Second-Lowest in Grocery Burden
A ConsumerAffairs study finds Massachusetts households spend an estimated 7.8% of income on groceries, second only to Oklahoma.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Organic Food
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Massachusetts households spend an estimated 7.8% of their income on groceries, the second-smallest grocery cost burden in the nation. The ConsumerAffairs rankings measure food spending as a share of household income rather than checkout prices.
Why it matters
The ranking shows that Massachusetts residents face a lighter grocery burden relative to earnings than most states, even as food costs have climbed nationally. For Massachusetts readers, the state's high median household earnings are a key reason its share of income spent on food stays low.
Massachusetts's 7.8% grocery burden compares with a national average of roughly 9.8% of household income, and the typical national household's estimated grocery cost is $8,019 a year. The study does not break down how these estimates vary by household size or income bracket within the state.
The players
ConsumerAffairs
ConsumerAffairs is a consumer-focused online platform that publishes product reviews, guides and research studies on everyday costs.
U.S. Census Bureau
The U.S. Census Bureau is the federal agency responsible for collecting and publishing data on the nation's population, households and income.
U.S. Department of Agriculture
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is the federal department that oversees farming, food programs and food spending statistics in the United States.
The details
The study compared projected grocery expenses against median household earnings in every state, using household size and earnings data from the U.S. Census Bureau and spending figures from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Between 2019 and 2025, household grocery outlays rose 33.2%, adding an estimated $1,733 a year for the typical family.
Timeline
2019 to 2025: Household grocery outlays rose 33.2% nationally.
November 2, 2026: ConsumerAffairs published and reported the grocery affordability study.
Market Landscape
The ranking extends the USDA's annual food-spending estimates into a state-by-state comparison, placing Massachusetts against regional and national benchmarks. It shows how a high-income state can keep grocery costs manageable even as national household outlays have grown by 33.2% since 2019.
For a Massachusetts household, a grocery burden near 7.8% of income leaves comparatively more room in the monthly budget than in most states. Families nationally, however, face an estimated $1,733 yearly increase in grocery costs since 2019, so budgeting for food remains a pressure point.
The takeaway
Tracking grocery spending as a share of income, rather than as raw prices, gives a clearer picture of affordability. Massachusetts households can use that measure to judge whether their food budget is keeping pace with their earnings.
Further reading
For more on food spending trends, see Organic Food coverage across the Massachusetts edition.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Cool Down.
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