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METRO AREA

Worcester Metro

Worcester, MA · 1 counties · 888,502 residents (2025 est.) · 1,510.677 sq mi
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Notable rankings
#45Most densely populatedof 925588
The short version

Worcester is wealthier than most US places, with a median household income of $95,939. Population has grown 16% since 2000. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $423,700. It ranks in the top 1% of US metro areas for household income.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 40.2
US median: 38.9
More educated
40% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 63%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
867,788
+16%since 2000
from 750,963 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
574 / sq mi
+16%since 2000
from 497 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
40.2
+11%since 2000
from 36.3 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:888,502 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
694K741K789K836K884K1990201020202024Worcester
2024868K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$95,939
+10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $47,874 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$48,914
+113%since 2000
from $22,983 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
59.8%
+17.6 ptssince 2009
from 42.3% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
10.3%
+1.1 ptssince 2000
from 9.2% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.453
+5%since 2010
from 0.433 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade11.3%
US avg: 9.9%
Information11.1%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade7.2%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services6.4%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration5.1%
US avg: 4.8%
Finance & insurance4.8%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical3.9%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing2%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.3%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.9%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.5%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.5%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$423,700
+63%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $142,600 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,426
+35%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $580 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
65.8%
+1.6 ptssince 2000
from 64.1% in 2000
34.2% rent
Vacancy rate
5.5%
−2.5 ptssince 2009
from 7.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
25.1%
−7.4 ptssince 2009
from 32.5% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
47.9%
+3.5 ptssince 2009
from 44.4% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
4.4
+48%since 2000
from 3.0 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
41
RELATED:See current rent listings in Worcester on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic86.5%(649,227)
Black2.4%(18,257)
Hispanic / Latino6.8%(50,864)
Asian2.6%(19,561)
Other0%
Diversity Score27.5%(206,375)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic70.3%(610,037)
Black4.8%(41,254)
Hispanic / Latino13.7%(118,968)
Asian5.3%(46,129)
Other5.9%(51,400)
Diversity Score59.8%(518,971)
Segregation Score39.6%(343,781)
Diversity Score
60
+118%since 2000
from 27 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
40
−4%since 2020
from 41 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
39.7%
+12.7 ptssince 2000
from 26.9% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
91.2%
+7.7 ptssince 2000
from 83.5% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
16.8%
+6.5 ptssince 2000
from 10.3% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
29.2 min
+57%since 2000
from 18.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
70.5%
−12.0 ptssince 2009
from 82.5% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.8%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 8.7% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
1.5%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 1.6% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
15.6%
+11.9 ptssince 2009
from 3.7% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.2%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 2.6% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.1%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
8.3%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 7.8% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.3%
−2.9 ptssince 2011
from 8.2% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
66.5%
−1.9 ptssince 2011
from 68.4% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
14.1%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 12.9% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
46.4%
−20.2 ptssince 2009
from 66.6% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.7%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 49.2% in 2009
Female
50.3%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 50.8% in 2009
Foreign born
14.5%
+4.2 ptssince 2009
from 10.4% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.0%
−43.5 ptssince 2009
from 48.5% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
13.4%
+2.2 ptssince 2012
from 11.2% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
2.5%
−93.8 ptssince 2013
from 96.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
92.9%
+10.7 ptssince 2017
from 82.2% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
77.7%
−3.8 ptssince 2016
from 81.5% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
9.5%
+1.6 ptssince 2016
from 7.9% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

WorcesterCENTRAL213,862
What's inside

1 component county

Worcester CountyCENTRAL888,502
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Worcester

Stockton
Pop 823,815
Albany
Pop 915,835
Charleston
Pop 889,263
Allentown
Pop 887,615
Places similar to Worcester
Head to head

Compare Worcester side by side

WORCESTER VS
Stockton
Income$92,179−4%
Home value$530,700+25%
Population823,815−7%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WORCESTER VS
Albany
Income$88,339−8%
Home value$288,584−32%
Population915,835+3%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WORCESTER VS
Charleston
Income$85,207−11%
Home value$404,179−5%
Population889,263same
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WORCESTER VS
Allentown
Income$85,100−11%
Home value$302,579−29%
Population887,615same
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Worcester, MA?

Worcester, MA has about 867,788 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Worcester, MA?

The typical household in Worcester, MA earns about $95,939 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Worcester, MA expensive?

In Worcester, MA, the median home is worth about $423,700, and the typical rent is about $1,426 a month.

How educated are people in Worcester, MA?

About 39.7% of adults age 25 and over in Worcester, MA hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Worcester, MA?

About 10.3% of people in Worcester, MA live below the federal poverty line.

Has Worcester, MA grown since 1990?

Yes, Worcester, MA has grown since 1990. The population has added about 158,083 residents, a change of about 22 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →

Worcester, MA: population, income & housing data · CensusEasy