Worcester, MA Local Data & Statistics

State: MA

Total population: 207,055 Household income: $70,102 Rent: $1,487

Overview

Total population

207,055

Rent

$1,487

Year built

1951

Household income

$70,102

Per capita income

$37,221

Poverty rate

19.6%

Unemployment rate

4.2%

Household size

2.4 persons

Rent over 30% of income

52%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Massachusetts

Total population

207,055

Adults over 25

135,831

Total households

79,501

Household size

2.4 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$70,102

Per capita income

$37,221

Poverty rate

19.6%

Unemployment rate

4.2%

Rent over 30% of income

52%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$1,487

Year built

1951

Households that rent

57.2%

Households that own

42.8%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.1

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

53.3%

Black

12.9%

Asian

7.2%

Two or more races

18.1%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

25.3%

Not Hispanic or Latino

74.7%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

88.5%

Commute time to work

24 mins

Work from home

11.5%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

27.6%

High school graduate or GED

27.4%

Some college or associate degree

9.9%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

35.2%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Worcester, MA with: Massachusetts United States

Worcester, MA

Total population207,055

Rent$1,487

Year built1951

Household income$70,102

Per capita income$37,221

Poverty rate19.6%

Unemployment rate4.2%

Massachusetts State

Total population7,044,056

Rent$1,762

Year built1964

Household income$103,960

Per capita income$57,897

Poverty rate10%

Unemployment rate4%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CityWorcester, MA	StateMassachusetts	CountryUnited States
Total population	207,055	7,044,056	334,922,499
Rent	$1,487	$1,762	$1,413
Year built	1951	1964	1980
Household income	$70,102	$103,960	$80,734
Per capita income	$37,221	$57,897	$44,673
Poverty rate	19.6%	10%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	4.2%	4%	4%

View the complete comparison of Worcester, MA, Massachusetts and United States →

Summary for Worcester, MA

Worcester is located in Massachusetts.

Rent & Income

In Worcester, the typical monthly rent is $1,487 and the typical household income is $70,102. Rent here is lower than Massachusetts and higher than the U.S., and household income is lower than both Massachusetts and the U.S. The estimated poverty rate is 19.6%, which is higher than in both Massachusetts and national.

Housing & Affordability

Renters make up about 57.2% of households, making this a predominantly renter area. About 52% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is high, with about 35.2% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The local unemployment rate is 4.2%, which is similar to both Massachusetts and the national rate.

Worcester, MA — Rent vs Household Income

Worcester, MA — Poverty vs Unemployment

How Worcester, MA compares in Massachusetts (23 places)

Metric	This place	Rank	Starts from	Statewide range
Rent	$1,487	6 / 23	from lower rent	$1,137 – $2,787
Household income	$70,102	18 / 23	from higher income	$52,656 – $190,304
Poverty rate	19.6%	20 / 23	from lower poverty	4.5% – 25.8%
Unemployment rate	4.2%	12 / 23	from lower unemployment	3.1% – 6.1%

Rankings are calculated among cities and communities in Massachusetts with total population > 50,000 (year 2024).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for Worcester, MA

Rent

Rent prices put Worcester in 6th place among 23 large communities in Massachusetts. Across Massachusetts, rents range from $1,137 in New Bedford, MA up to $2,787 in Cambridge, MA.

Household income

Looking at household income, Worcester places 18th out of 23 significant areas. Incomes across Massachusetts range between $52,656 in Springfield, MA and $190,304 in Newton, MA.

Poverty rate

Looking at poverty, Worcester ranks 20th out of 23 large places. Statewide poverty rates range from 4.5% in Newton, MA to 25.8% in Springfield, MA.

Unemployment rate

Unemployment levels put Worcester in 12th place among 23 large places. Statewide unemployment spans from 3.1% in Somerville, MA to 6.1% in Springfield, MA.

💰 Rent in Worcester, MA (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,487 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Worcester, MA

Annual Household Income: $70,102

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Worcester, MA

Estimated Rate: 19.6%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Worcester, MA

In Worcester, MA, households that rent: 45,513 (57.2%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	45,513	57.2%
Owner-Occupied	33,988	42.8%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Worcester, MA

In Worcester, MA, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 23,646 (52%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	23,646	52%
Other renter households	21,867	48%
Total renter households	45,513	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Worcester, MA

Less than High School: 37,500 people (27.6%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 37,151 people (27.4%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 13,382 people (9.9%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 47,798 people (35.2%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 135,831

📊 Unemployment Rate in Worcester, MA

Estimated Rate: 4.2%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

Cape Coral, FL206,387 Yonkers, NY209,529 Fayetteville, NC209,692 Rochester, NY209,720 Columbus, GA204,383 Salt Lake City, UT203,888 Frisco, TX210,238 Moreno Valley, CA210,378 Little Rock, AR202,739 McKinney, TX202,314

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.