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Economy, jobs and prices in Worcester, Massachusetts: official figures

The median household income in Worcester was $70,102 a year in the 2020-2024 American Community Survey (in 2024 dollars), 287th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US median was $80,734 and the Massachusetts median $103,960.

Median household income
$70,102
2020-2024
Unemployment rate (ACS)
6.5%
2020-2024
Mean travel time to work
24.1 min
2020-2024
Median gross rent (monthly)
$1,487
2020-2024
Median home value (owner-occupied)
$374,400
2020-2024
Homes occupied by their owners
42.8%
2020-2024
Households with a broadband subscription
91.0%
2020-2024

What is the per capita income in Worcester?

Income per resident (per capita income) in Worcester averaged $37,221 a year in 2020-2024, 312th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $44,673; Massachusetts: $57,897).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How unequal are incomes in Worcester?

Worcester's Gini index of household income inequality was 0.478 in 2020-2024 (0 means equal incomes, 1 maximum inequality), 195th most unequal of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US figure was 0.483.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What is the unemployment rate in Worcester, Massachusetts?

6.5% of the civilian labor force in Worcester was unemployed on average over 2020-2024 (7,201 people), 206th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US rate in the same survey was 5.2% and Massachusetts' 5.2%.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What share of people in Worcester are working?

65.2% of Worcester's 170,788 residents aged 16 and over were in the labor force (working or looking for work) in 2020-2024, 377th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 63.5%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in Worcester have jobs?

104,068 residents of Worcester held civilian jobs, 60.9% of those aged 16 and over (US: 59.7%), and 86 served in the armed forces.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What are the main industries in Worcester?

The largest industry group for working residents of Worcester was education, health care and social assistance (33.7% of employed residents), followed by professional, scientific, management and administrative services (11.0%) and retail trade (10.7%), 2020-2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in Worcester work in manufacturing?

Manufacturing employed 9.5% of working residents of Worcester, 364th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 9.9%); professional, scientific and management services employed 11.0% (US: 12.6%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How long is the commute in Worcester, Massachusetts?

Commuters in Worcester took 24.1 minutes on average to get to work in 2020-2024, 384th shortest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 26.4 minutes); 8.7% travelled an hour or more and 31.9% less than 15 minutes.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How do people in Worcester get to work?

11.5% of workers living in Worcester worked from home in 2020-2024, 290th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 15.1%). 65.2% drove to work alone, 11.0% carpooled, 3.2% used public transport and 5.1% walked.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What is the average rent in Worcester, Massachusetts?

The median gross rent (rent plus utilities) in Worcester was $1,487 a month in 2020-2024, 361st lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $1,413; Massachusetts: $1,762).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does a house cost in Worcester?

Owner-occupied homes in Worcester had a median value of $374,400 in 2020-2024 as estimated by their owners, 390th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $332,700; Massachusetts: $562,100).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How affordable are homes in Worcester?

The median home value in Worcester was 5.3 times the median household income, 312th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 4.1 times).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What share of people in Worcester, Massachusetts own their home?

42.8% of the 79,501 occupied homes in Worcester were lived in by their owners in 2020-2024 and 45,513 were rented, 87th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more for home ownership (US: 65.2%; Massachusetts: 62.5%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What share of homes in Worcester have broadband?

91.0% of households in Worcester had a broadband internet subscription of some type in 2020-2024, 264th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 91.0%; Massachusetts: 92.8%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many households in Worcester have no internet?

7.0% of households in Worcester (5,552) had no internet access at home in 2020-2024, 196th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.5%); 12.9% relied on a cellular data plan alone (US: 11.5%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Worcester compares with other cities in the United States

Median household income (2024 dollars) (2020-2024)

Worcester ranks 537 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMedian household income (2024 dollars)
534Missoula$70,392
535Casper$70,218
536Lake Havasu City$70,148
537Worcester$70,102
538Grand Junction$70,080
539Boynton Beach$70,074
540Spokane$70,064
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Per capita income (2024 dollars) (2020-2024)

Worcester ranks 512 of 823, highest first.

RankCityPer capita income (2024 dollars)
509Prescott Valley$37,400
510Winston-Salem$37,345
511Albany$37,281
512Worcester$37,221
513Chino$37,217
514Providence$37,138
515Amarillo$37,126
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Gini index of household income inequality (2020-2024)

Worcester ranks 195 of 823, highest first.

RankCityGini index of household income inequality
192Las Vegas0.479
193Wichita Falls0.479
194Duluth0.478
195Worcester0.478
196Edinburg0.478
197Santa Fe0.478
198Portland0.478
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Unemployment rate (share of civilian labor force) (2020-2024)

Worcester ranks 206 of 823, highest first.

RankCityUnemployment rate (share of civilian labor force)
203Hollywood6.5%
204West Covina6.5%
205Chino6.5%
206Worcester6.5%
207Bossier City6.5%
208Texas City6.5%
209Parma6.5%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Labor force participation rate (16 and over) (2020-2024)

Worcester ranks 447 of 823, highest first.

RankCityLabor force participation rate (16 and over)
444West Sacramento65.2%
445Greensboro65.2%
446Kalamazoo65.2%
447Worcester65.2%
448Laguna Niguel65.2%
449Hampton65.2%
450Bismarck65.1%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Mean travel time to work (minutes) (2020-2024)

Worcester ranks 440 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMean travel time to work (minutes)
437Charleston24.2
438Parma24.2
439Bonita Springs24.2
440Worcester24.1
441Portland24.1
442Lodi24.1
443Carrollton24.1
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Workers who worked from home (2020-2024)

Worcester ranks 534 of 823, highest first.

RankCityWorkers who worked from home
531Kannapolis11.6%
532Rock Hill11.6%
533Westminster11.6%
534Worcester11.5%
535Santa Rosa11.5%
536North Port11.5%
537Tulsa11.5%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Workers commuting by public transportation (2020-2024)

Worcester ranks 173 of 823, highest first.

RankCityWorkers commuting by public transportation
170Duluth3.3%
171Bellingham3.3%
172Brookhaven3.2%
173Worcester3.2%
174Houston3.2%
175Lakewood3.2%
176South Fulton3.2%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Employed residents working in manufacturing (2020-2024)

Worcester ranks 364 of 823, highest first.

RankCityEmployed residents working in manufacturing
361Downey9.5%
362Camden9.5%
363Rockwall9.5%
364Worcester9.5%
365Macon-Bibb County9.5%
366Lincoln9.5%
367Bothell9.5%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Employed residents in education, health care and social assistance (2020-2024)

Worcester ranks 26 of 823, highest first.

RankCityEmployed residents in education, health care and social assistance
23Durham34.3%
24Provo34.2%
25Grand Forks34.0%
26Worcester33.7%
27Athens33.6%
28New Rochelle33.3%
29Newton33.1%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Median gross rent per month (2020-2024)

Worcester ranks 463 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMedian gross rent per month
460Anchorage$1,489
461New Haven$1,488
462Chico$1,488
463Worcester$1,487
464Taylorsville$1,482
465Murfreesboro$1,481
466Dallas$1,472
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Median value of owner-occupied homes (2020-2024)

Worcester ranks 434 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMedian value of owner-occupied homes
431Maricopa$377,200
432Pasco$376,300
433Fresno$374,800
434Worcester$374,400
435Newark$373,700
436Cape Coral$373,500
437Madison$372,900
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Median home value as a multiple of median household income (2020-2024)

Worcester ranks 309 of 820, highest first.

RankCityMedian home value as a multiple of median household income
306Broomfield5.4x
307Gainesville5.4x
308Nashville5.3x
309Worcester5.3x
310Perris5.3x
311Colorado Springs5.3x
312Lauderhill5.3x
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Occupied homes lived in by their owners (2020-2024)

Worcester ranks 737 of 823, highest first.

RankCityOccupied homes lived in by their owners
734Mount Vernon42.9%
735Tuscaloosa42.9%
736Bridgeport42.8%
737Worcester42.8%
738Pasadena42.5%
739Dallas42.4%
740Oakland42.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Households with a broadband subscription (2020-2024)

Worcester ranks 560 of 823, highest first.

RankCityHouseholds with a broadband subscription
557Columbia91.1%
558Tallahassee91.1%
559Monterey Park91.0%
560Worcester91.0%
561Eau Claire91.0%
562Lynwood91.0%
563Salt Lake City91.0%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Households with no internet access (2020-2024)

Worcester ranks 196 of 823, highest first.

RankCityHouseholds with no internet access
193South Gate7.1%
194Taunton7.1%
195Meriden7.0%
196Worcester7.0%
197Tyler6.9%
198Lynn6.9%
199Evansville6.9%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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