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Living in
Fitchburg.
About
Life in Fitchburg
Fitchburg feels like a working city that's actively trying to reinvent itself. You'll find genuine diversity here—about 22% of residents identify as Latino, and the community has real roots going back generations. The cost of living is reasonable compared to much of New England; median home values hover around $336,400 and rent averages $1,222 monthly, which means your money stretches further than in Boston or Worcester.
Fitchburg at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
36.3 yrs
Poverty Rate
15.6%
Foreign-Born
13.0%
Broadband Internet
91.2%
of households
Population Growth
+0.5%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics13.0% foreign-born, most often from Dominican Republic
Who lives in Fitchburg: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Fitchburg, the largest foreign-born group is from Dominican Republic (16.9%), and 23.5% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
20.6%
of residents
65 and Older
14.3%
of residents
Households with Kids
30.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
31.4%
of households
Married Couples
32.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.40
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 31% below MA average
Rent, home values, and income in Fitchburg
In Fitchburg, rent runs 31% below the MA average, and home values are 40% below the MA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
48.3%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
23.0%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
102.5
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,456
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
54.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1950
median year built
Vacant Homes
6.1%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $399,752 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.3 pts above MA average
Unemployment in Fitchburg
Unemployment in Fitchburg is 1.3 percentage points higher than the MA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Fitchburg Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute27.1 min avg
How Fitchburg residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Fitchburg, most residents drive alone to work (73%), and 64% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 22 mi
Worcester Regional Airport (ORH)
Regional airport · few flights106k passengers boarded in 2025
- 43 mi
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
Major hub21.0M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 56% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Fitchburg runs 56% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
514.8
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,380.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Fitchburg Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 15 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
93.5 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Worcester County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Worcester County, which includes Fitchburg, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 15 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | $162,300 |
| 2024 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | $11,800 |
| 2023 | 30 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.0M |
| 2022 | 25 | Thunderstorm Wind | $99,300 |
| 2021 | 42 | Thunderstorm Wind | $220,500 |
| 2020 | 47 | Strong Wind | $376,000 |
| 2019 | 34 | Strong Wind | $170,350 |
| 2018 | 45 | Strong Wind | $5.5M |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Worcester County, county-wide
Fitchburg is about 5% of Worcester County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality39 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Worcester County, which includes Fitchburg, is typically good — 298 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
39
Good Days
298
per year
Moderate Days
67
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Worcester County, county-wide
Fitchburg is about 5% of Worcester County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate78°F summers, 17°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Fitchburg has mild summers (avg high 78°F) and very cold winters (avg low 17°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
56°/35°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
78°/58°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
60°/40°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
35°/17°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
49.6"
Annual Snowfall
75.2"
Hot Days/Year
8
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
147
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
138
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 34°F | 15°F | 3.52" |
| Feb | 35°F | 14°F | 3.30" |
| Mar | 44°F | 23°F | 4.35" |
| Apr | 57°F | 35°F | 4.19" |
| May | 67°F | 46°F | 3.70" |
| Jun | 76°F | 55°F | 4.27" |
| Jul | 81°F | 61°F | 3.69" |
| Aug | 79°F | 59°F | 4.28" |
| Sep | 73°F | 51°F | 4.25" |
| Oct | 60°F | 39°F | 5.31" |
| Nov | 48°F | 31°F | 3.88" |
| Dec | 37°F | 22°F | 4.86" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Fitchburg
Uninsured
2.0%
of residents
No hospitals inside Fitchburg's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Umass Memorial Healthalliance Hospitals
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.4 mi away · Leominster
Heywood Hospital -
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 8.7 mi away · Gardner
Taravista Behavioral Health Center
Psychiatric · 11 mi away · Devens
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education11.5:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Fitchburg
Fitchburg's student/teacher ratio is 11.5:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 25.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
10
within city limits
Private Schools
3
within city limits
College Degree Rate
25.1%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
11.5:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Fitchburg
Public · 4-year · 2,752 students · in-state tuition $11,886 · 58% graduate · median earnings $63,428 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
Mount Wachusett Community College
8.6 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 3,059 students · in-state tuition $6,350 · 29% graduate · median earnings $46,748 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Lowell National Historical Park, 26 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Fitchburg
Fitchburg has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Lowell National Historical Park (26 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Lowell National Historical Park
National Historical Park
26 mi awayMinute Man National Historical Park
National Historical Park
28 mi awayLongfellow House Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site
National Historic Site
38 mi awayFrederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site
National Historic Site
39 mi awayJohn Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site
National Historic Site
39 mi awayBoston African American National Historic Site
National Historic Site
41 mi awayBoston National Historical Park
National Historical Park
42 mi awayNew England National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
42 mi awayPublic Libraries in Fitchburg
Fitchburg Public Library
610 Main St., Fitchburg
Cities Near Fitchburg
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Fitchburg?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Fitchburg FAQ
Is Fitchburg, Massachusetts affordable?⌄
Fitchburg's median rent is $1,222/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $73,040/year. Median home value is $336,400.
Is Fitchburg, Massachusetts safe?⌄
Fitchburg's violent crime rate was 515 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1381 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Fitchburg, Massachusetts?⌄
Fitchburg has an unemployment rate of 5.8%, which is above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Fitchburg, Massachusetts?⌄
The cost of living in Fitchburg is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,222/month and median household income is $73,040/year. The median home value is $336,400. About 48% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Fitchburg, Massachusetts?⌄
The average commute in Fitchburg is 27 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from