City profile
Worcester, MA
New England’s second-largest city with lower prices than Boston and good hospitals.
Climate
Climate type
Four seasons
Winter avg
25°F
Summer avg
71°F
Sunny days / yr
195
Home prices & cost of living
Median home price
$410,000
Typical monthly housing
$2,636
Cost of living (100 = U.S.)
112
Taxes
- Property tax
- 1.11%
- State income tax (top)
- 9%
- Social Security
- Not taxed
- Pensions
- Partly exempt
- Sales tax (state + avg. local)
- 6.25%
FEMA natural hazard risk
Relatively Moderate · county score 94/100
Top hazards: Ice storm, Strong wind, Hurricane
Nearest major airport
41 mi to Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
Political lean (2024 county vote)
Competitive / purple · 51% Democratic / 47% Republican
Demographics (Census ACS)
Population (2024)
207,055
Growth since 2019
+11.8%
Median age
33.9
Residents 65+
13.5%
Median household income
$70,102
Income growth since 2019
+45.6%
Black household income
$69,529
Home ownership
42.8%
Poverty rate
19.6%
Poverty rate, 65+
17.4%
Race & ethnicity: Black 12.1% · White 48.6% · Hispanic 25.3% · Asian 7.2% · Other 6.9%
Crime (per 100,000 residents, 2025)
Violent crime
602 · 82% above the national average
Property crime
1,433 · 8% below the national average
Source: FBI Crime Data Explorer, Worcester Police Department. State average: violent 301, property 1,036.
2025–2026 trends
2026 market trends
- ▸More retirees are leaving MA than arriving, mostly over cost
- ▸Home prices are still rising in 2026 — good for long-term value, less room to negotiate
- ▸Climate/cost risks to check: winter storms, high cost of living
Highlights
- Cheaper than Boston
- UMass Memorial healthcare
- Train to Boston
Trade-offs
- Cold winters
- Older housing
Figures are estimates from public sources (see How we match). Verify before making decisions.