1st Advantage MortgageWorcester County households have a median income of $95,939 and median rent of $1,426 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Worcester County at a glance
- Employment and commuting in Worcester County
- Paychecks and income spread in Worcester County
- Renting and owning in Worcester County
- Regional comparison for Worcester County
- Worcester County towns compared
- Debt-to-income at Worcester County's medians
- Before borrowing in Worcester County
- Worcester County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Steps before you apply in Worcester County
- Who licenses lenders for Worcester County residents
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Worcester County at a glance
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Worcester County's population at 867,788; only 1 of Massachusetts's 14 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 1,511 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 574 per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Worcester, MA metropolitan area. Of the 68 Census places inside Worcester County, Worcester leads by population with about 207,055; 39 of the 68 are incorporated.
Employment and commuting in Worcester County
The biggest employer of Worcester County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 28% of workers, followed by professional and administrative services (13%). The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 11% locally and 9% for Massachusetts. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 5.3% in Worcester County. About 71% drive to work alone and 22% have trips of 45 minutes or more. 8.3% of households have no vehicle.
| Sector | Worcester County | Compared with Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 27.9% | -0.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 12.7% | -3.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 11.3% | +2.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.1% | +1.4 pts |
| Construction | 7.2% | +1.0 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.8% | -0.7 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
Paychecks and income spread in Worcester County
Half of Worcester County households take in less than $95,939 a year and half take in more, 8% below the Massachusetts median of $103,960.
| Yearly household income | Worcester County | Gap to Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 18.4% | +0.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 33.7% | +3.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 30.7% | +1.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 17.3% | -5.0 pts |
Some 18% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 48% have six-figure incomes. 10.3% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 10.0%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.453 here. A household earning below the $95,939 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Renting and owning in Worcester County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,426 in Worcester County versus $1,762 statewide. 51% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 25% spend half or more. Home values center on $423,700, or 4.4 years of median income. 66% of Worcester County households own their home and 34% rent. The median home was built in 1967, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Housing | Worcester County | Massachusetts statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,426/mo | $1,762/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $423,700 | $562,100 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 66% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 51% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 28% | 30% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 0.8% | 0.8% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 5% | 8% | n/a |
Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Regional comparison for Worcester County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (30 to 38 miles). Middlesex County leads the group on income ($130,847), Hampden County trails ($71,306), and Worcester County out-earns 5 of the six. Some neighbors are in Connecticut and Rhode Island. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Worcester County resident follows Massachusetts rules.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worcester County | - | $95,939 | $1,426/mo | 66% |
| Middlesex County, MA | 30 mi | $130,847 | $2,201/mo | 61% |
| Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region, CT | 32 mi | $90,589 | $1,155/mo | 77% |
| Providence County, RI | 36 mi | $78,787 | $1,312/mo | 57% |
| Hampshire County, MA | 37 mi | $87,001 | $1,388/mo | 68% |
| Hampden County, MA | 38 mi | $71,306 | $1,136/mo | 62% |
| Franklin County, MA | 38 mi | $74,907 | $1,177/mo | 70% |
Worcester County towns compared
The table lists the 14 largest of 68 Census places in Worcester County, by population. Together all 68 hold about 775,477 people, so roughly 11% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $40,365 in Warren to $213,996 in Harvard. Median rent ranges from $720 in Warren to $2,496 in Southborough. Linked names have their own city guide; this page covers every other Worcester County community.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worcester | city | 207,055 | $70,102 | $1,487 | 7 mi |
| Leominster | city | 43,909 | $83,816 | $1,354 | 17 mi |
| Fitchburg | city | 41,798 | $73,040 | $1,222 | 21 mi |
| Shrewsbury | town | 38,876 | $139,302 | $2,116 | 12 mi |
| Milford | CDP | 27,731 | $93,310 | $1,889 | 24 mi |
| Gardner | city | 21,148 | $67,518 | $1,109 | 19 mi |
| Holden | town | 20,064 | $141,923 | $1,648 | 5 mi |
| Grafton | town | 19,902 | $131,484 | $1,504 | 15 mi |
| Southbridge Town | city | 17,928 | $66,287 | $1,256 | 18 mi |
| Auburn | town | 16,970 | $116,711 | $1,467 | 9 mi |
| Northbridge | town | 16,458 | $111,319 | $1,207 | 19 mi |
| Uxbridge | town | 14,473 | $124,725 | $1,555 | 23 mi |
| Millbury | town | 13,961 | $118,790 | $1,623 | 12 mi |
| Charlton | town | 13,435 | $117,587 | $1,381 | 12 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
Debt-to-income at Worcester County's medians
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Worcester County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Median income divided by twelve: $7,995 before taxes
- Median rent: $1,426, or 18 cents of every gross dollar
- $1,452: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Two-income households and single earners in Worcester County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Before borrowing in Worcester County
Where the Worcester County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Keeping the car running. At 22% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Worcester County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Consolidation math. With 48% at six figures, card consolidation is common; it pays only if total cost falls (guide).
- Tight rental budgets. With 51% of Worcester County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
Worcester County residents: age, schooling, coverage
Degree holders: 40% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 2.5%, against 2.6% for Massachusetts.
| Measure | Worcester County | Massachusetts statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.2 | 40.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 39.7% | 47.3% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.8% | 8.6% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 2.5% | 2.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 8.3% | 11.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 15.6% | 18.6% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 10.3% | 10.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.3% | 5.2% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Worcester County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 25.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 31.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 20.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 10.1% |
| 60+ min | 12.2% |
Steps before you apply in Worcester County
Steps that save money for Worcester County residents:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Who licenses lenders for Worcester County residents
Consumer lenders serving Worcester County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Massachusetts that is the Massachusetts Division of Banks. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. More on Massachusetts: Massachusetts personal loans.
Nearby and statewide guides
More local guides:
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Worcester County earn?
The median is $95,939; 48% earn $100,000 or more and 18% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How does Worcester County rent compare with Massachusetts?
$1,426 locally versus $1,762 for the state, 19% below.
Does this page cover Worcester?
Yes, along with the other 67 Census places in Worcester County, such as Leominster, Fitchburg, Shrewsbury.
Does living in Worcester County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Worcester County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Where can someone in Worcester County check a lender's license?
With the Massachusetts Division of Banks. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.