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Massachusetts city profile

What Is It Like to Live in Worcester?

What it costs to live in Worcester, and how it compares with other Massachusetts cities, in plain numbers.

Value score

55

32nd best value in Massachusetts

How much you get for what you pay, versus other Massachusetts cities.

Overall livability

42

51st overall in Massachusetts

Cost, safety, schools, jobs and quality of life combined.

Worcester is home to about 203,867 people. A typical home runs $259,800 and a household earns around $56,700, a price-to-income ratio of 4.6. Among Massachusetts's largest cities, it ranks 32nd for value and 51st overall.

Worcester at a glance

Median home price

$259,800

31st in MA of 80

Median rent

$1,179/mo

Median household income

$56,700

Home price to income

4.6x

Unemployment

6.2%

57th in MA of 80

School rating

4/10

72nd in MA of 80

Air quality (AQI)

45

0th in MA of 80

Walk score

24/100

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‹ See all top Massachusetts cities ranked  ยท  Massachusetts state profile ›

Sources: Home prices and rent from Zillow; income, unemployment and commute from the U.S. Census; school ratings from state education data; crime from the FBI; air quality from the EPA. City rankings are within Massachusetts only. Updated 2026.