Worcester, Massachusetts

Cost of living, housing, income, commute, climate, and safety — compiled for relocators researching Worcester.

MapsToIt planning snapshot

How much does it cost to live in Worcester?

Worcester planning snapshot: population 211,286, housing index 108 (near the U.S. housing-cost baseline), median home $339,500, median rent $1,415, and income near $67,544. Expect 77°F summer highs, 20°F winter lows, and about 27-minute one-way commutes. Violent-offense rates run about 629.9 per 100k (catalog avg 586.6).

Catalog refreshed 2026-09-10 · Source vintages vary — see per-metric labels below · Methodology & sources

Crime figures may use an older source vintage than housing and income on this page.

Housing cost index: 108U.S. avg 100
Median home value: $339,500U.S. $303,400
Median rent: $1,415U.S. $1,348
Median income: $67,544U.S. $78,538
Unemployment: 4.8%U.S. 4.2%
Avg commute: 27 minCatalog avg 25 min
Violent crime: 629.9per 100k · avg 586.6
Summer high: 77°FCatalog avg 87°F

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Key figures

Each metric shows how Worcester compares with the U.S. baseline (ACS/BLS nationals where available; catalog-city averages for crime, climate, and commute). Income, housing, population, and crime are for the incorporated city (city limits), not the broader metro/MSA — unemployment is county-level (BLS LAUS).

Population: 211,286City limits · Census PEP 2024 estimate
As of 2026-09-10 · Census PEP 2024
Median household income: $67,544Incorporated place (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year14% below U.S. avgU.S. $78,538
Housing cost index: 108ACS home+rent vs U.S. (100 = avg)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year8% above U.S. avgU.S. 100
Median home value: $339,500City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year12% above U.S. avgU.S. $303,400
Median rent: $1,415City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-yearNear U.S. avg ($1,348)U.S. $1,348
Unemployment: 4.8%County LAUS · not city-only
As of 2026-09-10 · July 2026Near U.S. avg (4.2 pts)U.S. 4.2 pts
Avg commute: 27 min8% above U.S. avgU.S. 25 min
Walk Score: 487% above U.S. avgU.S. 45
Violent crime rate: 629.9annualized per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)7% above U.S. avgU.S. 586.6
Property crime rate: 2050.3annualized per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)34% below U.S. avgU.S. 3087.9
Summer high: 77°FAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals10.0°F below U.S. avgU.S. 87°F
Winter low: 20°FAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals14.0°F below U.S. avgU.S. 34°F
Annual rainfall: 48.3 inAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals46% above U.S. avgU.S. 33 in
Sunny days: 227As of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals15% below U.S. avgU.S. 268

Population trend

Worcester grew 16.2% from 181,759 in 2010 to 211,286 in 2024.

Dec 2024211,286 people+16.2% vs 2010

Source: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024). Playback steps monthly between annual Census PEP estimates.

Is Worcester expensive compared to the U.S. average?

Worcester's housing cost index is 108 versus 100 nationally — near the U.S. housing-cost baseline. That gap is driven mainly by ACS median home values ($339,500 vs $303,400) and rents ($1,415 vs $1,348).

Housing cost index 108 (U.S. 100)
Median home $339,500 vs U.S. $303,400
Median rent $1,415 vs U.S. $1,348

How much does housing cost in Worcester?

Typical ownership costs center near $339,500, while median gross rent is about $1,415 a month. Against a median household income of $67,544, rent alone is roughly 25% of income on an annualized basis.

Median home value $339,500
Median rent $1,415/month
Median household income $67,544

What is the job market like in Worcester?

County unemployment recently ran 4.8% versus a U.S. rate of 4.2%. Median household income in Worcester is about $67,544 (U.S. $78,538).

Unemployment 4.8% (U.S. 4.2%)
Median income $67,544

How long is the typical commute in Worcester?

Average one-way commute time is about 27 minutes, with Walk Score near 48/100. The catalog-city average commute is 25 minutes.

27 minutes average one-way
Walk Score 48/100

Is Worcester safer than similar U.S. cities?

Published violent-offense rates are about 629.9 per 100k and property about 2050.3 per 100k, versus catalog averages of 586.6 and 3087.9. Citywide rates hide large neighborhood differences.

Violent 629.9 per 100k
Property 2050.3 per 100k

What is the climate like year-round in Worcester?

Normals show summer highs near 77°F, winter lows near 20°F, about 48.3 inches of rain, and roughly 227 sunny days a year.

Summer high 77°F
Winter low 20°F
48.3 in rain · 227 sunny days

Compare Worcester to another city Find cities like Worcester

Four sharp seasons and a dense education/biotech corridor drive demand. Winter lows around 20°F mean heating costs and snow logistics belong on the checklist. Average one-way commute time is about 27 minutes, and Walk Score estimates land around 48/100. Labor-market readings near 4.8% unemployment are neither boom nor bust by national standards. Violent-offense rates near 629.9 per 100k sit in a mid-to-elevated band versus many peer cities in this catalog.

Worcester, Massachusetts counts about 211,286 residents inside the city limits. With median income around $67,544 and a cost index of 108, the market reads close to the national housing-cost baseline. A typical home near $339,500 and rents around $1,415 frame most shortlists.

Worcester is compact enough that a single wrong neighborhood choice is easy to feel day to day — visit at commute hour before signing. Figures on this page are merged from Census ACS, BLS LAUS, FBI Crime Data Explorer, and NOAA Climate Normals — use them to compare Worcester with nearby alternatives before you relocate.

Nearby & similar cities

Continue researching with these internal links — each page is a full data profile.

Sources

Census / ACS: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 5-year (Worcester city, 1600000US2582000) — As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year
BLS: BLS LAUS · Worcester County, July 2026 — As of 2026-09-10 · July 2026
Crime: FBI CIUS Table 8 (2019) city offenses known to law enforcement — rates per 100k; CDE API unavailable at enrich time — As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)
Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 Monthly Normals (USW00094746 WORCESTER RGNL AP) — As of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals
Population trend: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024) — As of 2026-09-10 · Census PEP 2024

Catalog refreshed 2026-09-10

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