Worcester
Massachusetts · Ranked #336 of 373 metros
38Crisis
💡
Housing in Worcester costs 4.61× the median income, above the national average of 4.5×. The median home price is $434K and median rent is $1,449/month. Worcester ranks #336 of 373 metros for affordability.
Median Home Price
🏠$434K
Need $121K income
Median Rent
🔑$1,449
Need $64K income
Housing Shortage
📉20,000
units needed
Building Permits
🔨2,506
annual
Median Income
💰$94K
Pop: 943,312
Rent Burden
⚠️35.0%
of renters paying >30%
Price Change (YoY)
📈+6%
Homeownership
🏡66.0%
Rent Burden
vs. National Average
Key Facts vs. National Average
| Metric | Worcester | National |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Income Ratio | 4.61x | 6.1x |
| Rent Burden | 35.0% | 31.5% |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.0% | 65.5% |
| YoY Price Change | +6% | +3.5% |
| YoY Rent Change | +4.5% | +2.8% |
| Mortgage Denial Rate | 13.5% | 13.5% |
| Eviction Rate | 3.0% | 3.6% |
House Price Index (2000–2025)
FHFA All-Transactions HPI
Since 2019: +65.3%Since 2000: +182.8%
HUD Fair Market Rents (FY2026)
Section 8 voucher payment standards
Studio$1,588/mo
1 Bedroom$1,599/mo
2 Bedroom$2,056/mo
3 Bedroom$2,548/mo
4 Bedroom$2,825/mo
Zillow Market Data
Home Value (ZHVI)
$463K
1yr: +1.5%5yr: +39.4%
Rent (ZORI)
$2,122/mo
1yr: +3.5%5yr: +44.3%
Note: ZORI reflects current listing prices and may differ from the Census ACS median rent shown above, which captures what renters actually pay including below-market and subsidized units.
Redfin Market Activity
Median Sale Price
$450K
Active Inventory
1,054
Days on Market
41
Sold Above List
37.2%
Price Drops
16.6%