Massachusetts Grocery Burden Ranks Among Nation's Lowest
Massachusetts households spend an estimated 7.8% of income on groceries, well below the national average of about 9.8%.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Organic Food
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A ConsumerAffairs study ranked Massachusetts second-lowest in grocery cost burden, with the average household spending an estimated 7.8% of its income on groceries. Oklahoma ranked best at 6.8%, while the national figure is roughly 9.8%, which matters for Massachusetts households budgeting against some of the highest earnings in the country.
Why it matters
The rankings measure food spending as a share of household income rather than checkout prices, so they capture affordability rather than sticker cost. Massachusetts ranks well largely because median household earnings are the highest in the nation, which means a lower share of income goes to food even when absolute grocery bills are substantial.
This is a state-by-state affordability ranking that pairs USDA grocery spending estimates with Census Bureau earnings data, so it reflects estimated spending as a share of income rather than observed prices. The national grocery burden is about 9.8% of household income, against 7.8% in Massachusetts and 11.7% in Arkansas, the highest.
The players
ConsumerAffairs
A consumer information website that publishes research and rankings on everyday household costs, including grocery affordability.
U.S. Department of Agriculture
The federal agency that tracks food spending and nutrition, and whose grocery expenditure data underpins national food cost estimates.
U.S. Census Bureau
The federal statistical agency that supplies household size and median earnings data used to measure income-based affordability.
The details
The study divided projected food expenses by median household earnings in each state, producing a share-of-income figure that shows how much of a family's budget groceries consume. Because the measure is relative to income, a state with high earnings can rank well even when its grocery bills are not small. Between 2019 and 2025, household grocery outlays rose 33.2%, which the study estimates added $1,733 a year for a typical family.
Timeline
- Between 2019 and 2025, household grocery outlays rose 33.2% nationally.
- The ConsumerAffairs grocery affordability study was published November 2, 2026.
Health Landscape
Food affordability shapes whether households can consistently buy the fresh and minimally processed foods that dietary guidance emphasizes. The study's income-share measure places Massachusetts among the states where those choices carry the least financial strain, while the nationwide rise in grocery outlays since 2019 shows the pressure is widespread.
If grocery costs are taking a larger share of your household budget, it is worth reviewing which staples you buy most often and whether your fresh food choices are sustainable month to month. Discuss any concerns about diet quality or food access with your doctor or a registered dietitian.
The takeaway
Grocery affordability is best judged as a share of income, and Massachusetts's high earnings keep its burden low even as costs rise. Tracking your own grocery spending against your income each month can help you spot pressure early and plan purchases before it affects your diet.
Further reading
For more on how food choices and budgets intersect, explore Organic Food coverage.
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