© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Living in
Worcester.
About
Life in Worcester
If you're considering Worcester as your next home, know that you're looking at a city that's genuinely reinvented itself over the past 30 years. Once a post-industrial decline story, this place has become one of the Northeast's more vibrant mid-sized cities—partly due to eight colleges and universities anchoring everything from biotech research to digital gaming innovation, and partly because of a real wave of immigration that's made the city genuinely diverse. You'll find substantial communities of Vietnamese, Brazilian, Albanian, Puerto Rican, Ghanaian, and Dominican residents, alongside the Irish, Italian, and Eastern European heritage neighborhoods that still define pockets of the city like Shrewsbury Street (the original "Little Italy" with some of the region's best restaurants) and Kelley Square.
Worcester at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
33.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
19.6%
Foreign-Born
25.1%
Broadband Internet
91.0%
of households
Population Growth
+3.6%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics25.1% foreign-born, most often from Brazil
Who lives in Worcester: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Worcester, the largest foreign-born group is from Brazil (11.3%), and 18.9% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
19.6%
of residents
65 and Older
13.3%
of residents
Households with Kids
29.1%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
31.2%
of households
Married Couples
33.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.42
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 16% below MA average
Rent, home values, and income in Worcester
In Worcester, rent runs 16% below the MA average, and home values are 33% below the MA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
52.0%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
26.0%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
102.5
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,733
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
42.8%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1951
median year built
Vacant Homes
7.4%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $432,708 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for MA
Unemployment in Worcester
Unemployment in Worcester is close to the MA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Worcester Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute24.1 min avg
How Worcester residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Worcester, most residents drive alone to work (65%), and 68% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 4 mi
Worcester Regional Airport (ORH)
Regional airport · few flights106k passengers boarded in 2025
- 41 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 83% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Worcester runs 83% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
601.5
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,432.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Worcester 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 Worcester, 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
Air Quality39 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Worcester County, which includes Worcester, 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
Climate77°F summers, 20°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Worcester has mild summers (avg high 77°F) and very cold winters (avg low 20°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
55°/36°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
77°/59°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
59°/43°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
35°/20°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
48.3"
Annual Snowfall
72.9"
Hot Days/Year
3
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
130
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
138
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 32°F | 17°F | 3.52" |
| Feb | 35°F | 19°F | 3.26" |
| Mar | 43°F | 26°F | 4.19" |
| Apr | 56°F | 37°F | 4.08" |
| May | 67°F | 47°F | 3.56" |
| Jun | 75°F | 56°F | 4.22" |
| Jul | 80°F | 62°F | 3.93" |
| Aug | 78°F | 61°F | 4.14" |
| Sep | 71°F | 53°F | 4.24" |
| Oct | 59°F | 42°F | 4.84" |
| Nov | 48°F | 33°F | 4.00" |
| Dec | 38°F | 23°F | 4.28" |
Healthcare5 hospitals, avg 2.5/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Worcester
Worcester has 5 hospitals, averaging 2.5 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
5
within city limits
Uninsured
3.9%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.5 / 5
Umass Memorial Medical Center/university Campus
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
St Vincent Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Adcare Hospital of Worcester Inc.
Acute Care Hospitals
Worcester Recovery Center and Hospital
Psychiatric
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Westborough Behavioral Healthcare Hospital Llc
Psychiatric · 11.7 mi away · Westborough
Marlborough Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 14.2 mi away · Marlborough
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.
Education12.6:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Worcester
Worcester's student/teacher ratio is 12.6:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 35.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
49
within city limits
Private Schools
11
within city limits
College Degree Rate
35.2%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.6:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Worcester
Quinsigamond Community College
Public · 2-year · 6,447 students · in-state tuition $6,376 · 32% graduate · median earnings $51,435 (10 yrs after entry)
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 5,447 students · in-state tuition $63,246 · 89% graduate · median earnings $113,513 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 4-year · 3,930 students · in-state tuition $12,344 · 61% graduate · median earnings $65,784 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 3,106 students · in-state tuition $68,090 · 91% graduate · median earnings $100,485 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,214 students · in-state tuition $61,140 · 77% graduate · median earnings $67,223 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,669 students · in-state tuition $53,420 · 71% graduate · median earnings $73,712 (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: Minute Man National Historical Park, 29 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Worcester
Worcester has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Minute Man National Historical Park (29 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Minute Man National Historical Park
National Historical Park
29 mi awayBlackstone River Valley National Historical Park
National Historical Park
35 mi awayFrederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site
National Historic Site
35 mi awayJohn Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site
National Historic Site
35 mi awayLongfellow House Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site
National Historic Site
36 mi awayLowell National Historical Park
National Historical Park
36 mi awayNew England National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
37 mi awayRoger Williams National Memorial
National Memorial
37 mi awayPublic Libraries in Worcester
Worcester Public Library
3 Salem Square, Worcester
Burncoat Branch
526 Burncoat Street, Worcester
Frances Perkins Branch Library At Greendale
470 West Boylston Street, Worcester
Goddard Branch
14 Richards Street, Worcester
Great Brook Valley Branch Library
89 Tacoma Street, Worcester
Roosevelt Branch
1006 Grafton Street, Worcester
Tatnuck Branch
1083 Pleasant Street, Worcester
Cities Near Worcester
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Worcester?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Worcester FAQ
Is Worcester, Massachusetts affordable?⌄
Worcester's median rent is $1,487/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $70,102/year. Median home value is $374,400.
Is Worcester, Massachusetts safe?⌄
Worcester's violent crime rate was 602 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1433 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Worcester, Massachusetts?⌄
Worcester has an unemployment rate of 4.6%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Worcester, Massachusetts?⌄
The cost of living in Worcester is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,487/month and median household income is $70,102/year. The median home value is $374,400. About 52% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Worcester, Massachusetts?⌄
The average commute in Worcester is 24 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