Worcester MA
Massachusetts · Pop. 207,055
Worcester, MA: median household income of $70,102, median rent of $1,487/mo, 6.5% unemployment. Our verdict: It Depends.
Score Breakdown
Key Metrics
Median Income
$70,102
per year
Median Rent
$1,487
per month
Median Home
$374k
home value
Unemployment
6.5%
of labor force
Poverty Rate
19.6%
below poverty line
Avg. Commute
24 min
one way
City Reality Check honest
"Worcester, MA Reality Check"
In Worcester, the rent-to-income burden runs around 25% — refreshingly manageable by national standards. Median income sits at $70,102 and median rent is $1,487/month. 52% of renters are cost-burdened (30%+ of income on housing). Landlords are winning; everyone else is treading water. Median home value: $374,400 — that's 5.3× the median income. Employment picture: 6.47% unemployment — a average employment landscape. Poverty rate: 19.6% — well above the national average. The headline economic numbers hide a bifurcated city. Average commute: 24 minutes — acceptable. Violent crime: 52.5/100k avg monthly rate (4796 reported); Property crime: 158.8/100k avg monthly rate (14483 reported). Worcester was founded in 1673 — that's 353 years of history baked into the streets. The city covers 38.5 sq miles at 5,385 people/sq mile — moderately dense. Elevation: 479 ft — modest elevation. RoastMyCity overall score: 59/100 — It Depends.
Local Context
Safety
/100Violent crime: 52.5/100k avg monthly rate (4796 reported); Property crime: 158.8/100k avg monthly rate (14483 reported).