Worcester, Massachusetts has an overall cost of living index of 95.4, which is 4.6 points below the US average of 100 — making it more affordable than most American cities. Renters pay a median of $1,487 per month, while the typical home is valued around $374,400. Households earn a median of $70,102 per year, leaving rent at a manageable share of income for many residents. Air quality is good, with an average AQI of 29. Below: housing costs, local wages by occupation, neighborhoods, climate, jobs and major industries, and healthcare access — all drawn from US Census, BEA, BLS, HUD, EPA, and NOAA data.
$70,102
Median Income / yr
Census ACS
$1,487
Median Rent / mo
Census ACS
$374,400
Median Home Value
Census ACS
95.4
Cost of Living Index
Studio FMR
$1,588
HUD · FY2024
1BR Fair Market Rent
$1,599
HUD · FY2024
2BR Fair Market Rent
$2,056
HUD · FY2024
3BR Fair Market Rent
$2,548
HUD · FY2024
Fair Market Rent is the 40th percentile of gross rents in the metro area · HUD FY2024
Each category indexed to the US average of 100. Below 100 = cheaper than average.
Overall
95.4
Goods
96.8
Rents / Housing
87.8
Services
82.6
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro-level)
| Occupation | Median Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Software Developer | $121,190 |
| Registered Nurse | $81,470 |
| Elementary Teacher | $50,350 |
| Electrician | $54,330 |
| Accountant | $78,340 |
| Plumber | $52,160 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $269,570 |
| Civil Engineer | $94,750 |
| Operations Manager | $115,290 |
| Market Research Analyst | $76,590 |
| Health Services Manager | $126,520 |
| Truck Driver | $51,520 |
| Physician Assistant | N/A |
| Surgeon | N/A |
| Data Scientist | N/A |
| Computer Engineer | N/A |
Source: BLS OEWS 2023 (metro-level data)
Population
207,055
Latest estimate
Median Age
33.9 yrs
Census ACS
29.0
Good0 = clean · 50 = moderate boundary · lower is better
Source: EPA AirNow
Total Neighborhoods
11
Tracked in our database
Avg Walk Score
N/A
0–100 scale
Avg Median Rent
$1,371
Per month
Avg Home Value
$318,673
Census ACS
| Neighborhood | Walk Score | Median Rent | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZIP 01545 | — | $1,841 | $512,000 |
| ZIP 01583 | — | $1,196 | $383,400 |
| ZIP 01602 | — | $1,487 | $347,600 |
| ZIP 01603 | — | $1,243 | $269,000 |
| ZIP 01604 | — | $1,413 | $295,100 |
| ZIP 01605 | — | $1,201 | $291,000 |
| ZIP 01606 | — | $1,432 | $304,200 |
| ZIP 01607 | — | $1,322 | $307,500 |
| ZIP 01608 | — | $1,450 | $156,300 |
| ZIP 01609 | — | $1,239 | $386,400 |
Showing top 10 of 11 tracked neighborhoods.
January Avg
25°F
July Avg
71°F
Sunny Days / Year
—
Annual Snowfall
—
Climate category: Continental · Source: NOAA/NCEI 30-year normals.
Healthcare Score
31.6
poor
Hospitals
5
Doctors per 1,000
1.00
Insurance Coverage
96.1%
Worcester has a Regional Price Parity (RPP) index of 95.4. The US national average is 100, so Worcester is 4.6 points below the national average.
The median gross rent in Worcester is $1,487 per month according to US Census ACS data.
The median household income in Worcester is $70,102 per year.
The median home value in Worcester is $374,400 based on the latest Census ACS survey.
Worcester has an average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 29.0, which is rated "Good" by the EPA. Lower AQI values indicate cleaner air.
Tax data for Massachusetts is not yet available.
Data last updated: June 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
