Worcester, MA Relocation Guide (2026)
Cost of living, housing, and income data for Worcester, sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Salary needed to live in Worcester →
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Last updated July 2026.
Worcester, Massachusetts is home to roughly 204,191 residents. The typical household here earns $63,011 a year — below the median we track across cities (-13%).
Anyone weighing a move to Worcester should know the median home value is $305,600, roughly in line with the multi-city median (-6%), and median rent runs $1,312 per month. Current mortgage rates and local property taxes both affect the real math of buying versus renting.
Buying a typical home in Worcester would run about 4.8 years of median household income — a moderate multiple, not unusually high or low. Worcester's home prices climbed 3.36% over the past year — steady appreciation without signs of overheating. Natural-hazard exposure in Worcester is rated Relatively Moderate by FEMA — modest risk that generally keeps insurance premiums more manageable.
Personal Affordability Check
Renting at $1,312/mo in Worcester would take 25.0% of your income.
$263/mo under the 30% guideline.
Buying the median home ($305,600) would take 31.1% of your income toward principal & interest.
$161/mo over the 28% guideline.
Cost of housing in Worcester
Median home value is $305,600 and median gross rent is $1,312/month. For buyers, monthly costs depend heavily on current mortgage rates — worth checking before you commit.
FHFA's county-level home price index for Worcester rose 3.36% over the past year (as of 2025).
Climate & home insurance
FEMA rates Worcester's overall natural-hazard risk as Relatively Moderate. Risk level is a major driver of home insurance premiums.
Safety
Worcester reported a violent crime rate of 601.5 per 100,000 residents in 2025, per FBI data.
Moving to Worcester
Planning a move to Worcester? Compare licensed movers and get quotes based on your origin and move date.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in Worcester, MA?
- Cost of living in Worcester centers on housing: median home value runs $305,600, median rent runs $1,312/month, and the typical household earns $63,011 a year. Data via the US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022).
- How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Worcester?
- At Worcester's median rent of $1,312/month, the 30%-of-income guideline suggests an annual income around $52,480 to stay comfortably housed. See the full salary breakdown (renting and buying) for Worcester.
- Is it better to rent or buy in Worcester?
- Comparing the two in Worcester: renting at the median $1,312/month needs about $52,480 in annual income (30% guideline), while buying the $305,600 median home needs roughly $69,920 a year in principal-and-interest, assuming 20% down and a 30-year fixed loan at current rates.
- Is Worcester safe?
- The most recent FBI figures (2025) show a violent crime rate of 601.5 per 100,000 residents in Worcester.
See the full salary breakdown for Worcester →
Cities with a similar cost of living
Matched on median rent and household income within 15% of Worcester's.