Smart Movers Club

    Moving to Worcester, MA

    Is Worcester a good place to live?

    Watch Worcester

    Worcester ranks #32 of 64 Massachusetts cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (52/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population grew 0.6% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $339,500
    +11.1% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $1,415
    per month
    Household income
    $67,544
    median
    Unemployment
    6.4%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Worcester

    The median home value in Worcester is $339,500 and median rent is $1,415 a month, against a median household income of $67,544. Homes cost about 5.0× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Worcester crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across Massachusetts the 2025 rate was 301 violent and 1,036 property crimes per 100,000 people — #42 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Worcester, MA

    Worcester has about 205,501 residents, 6.4% unemployment and 20% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Worcester with

    Worcester vs BostonWorcester vs SpringfieldWorcester vs CambridgeWorcester vs LowellWorcester vs BrocktonWorcester vs QuincyWorcester vs LynnWorcester vs New Bedford

    More: Where to move in Massachusetts · Best counties in Massachusetts

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report