Living in Worcester, MA
Mid-size city in Massachusetts
Worcester is a mid-size city in Massachusetts, home to about 206,000 people, with 1.0 million living within 31 mi. Day to day, much of daily life is walkable. Life moves at a fast pace, and homes are mostly apartments.
Is Worcester a good place to live? Pros and cons
👍 Pros
- Mild summers: highs around 78°F
- Strong healthcare: 5 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi
- Low natural disaster risk: 11 federally declared disasters since 2000
- Easy flying: BOS is 42 mi away
👎 Cons
- Higher taxes: about $3,502 state income tax per resident, 1.34% property tax
- Cloudier than most places
- Few dog parks: 5 within 9 mi
- Fewer family amenities than most places
Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Worcester ranks against your own priorities.
Key facts
Living in Worcester: common questions
What is the cost of living in Worcester?
A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $447k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $2,550 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are close to the US average (index 103, where the US is 100).
What are taxes like in Worcester?
Massachusetts collects about $3,502 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 1.34% of their home's value in property tax each year.
Is Worcester safe?
Violent crime is well above the national rate (1.7× in FBI 2019 data).
What is the weather like in Worcester?
Worcester has long, snowy winters: winter days average around 35°F and summer days around 78°F, with roughly 73″ of snow a year.
Does Worcester get natural disasters?
Natural disaster risk is low, mainly from flooding and hurricanes: 11 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 0.19 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.
What is the nearest major airport to Worcester?
The nearest major airport is BOS, about 42 mi away.
How Worcester scores
Each bar compares Worcester with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).
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Nearby
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Is Worcester right for you?
Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.