Cost of Living in Worcester County, Massachusetts
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Worcester County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Worcester County ranks #2,953 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 6%)
Sourced county brief
Worcester County Median Home Value Estimated at $423,700
In Worcester County, the median home value was estimated at $423,700 according to the 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year Estimates. This value is $210,557 below the Massachusetts unweighted county mean of $634,257. For homeowners, median selected monthly owner costs were $1,932, which is $155 lower than the state unweighted county mean of $2,087. The median monthly gross rent for the county was $1,426, a figure $190 below the state unweighted county mean of $1,616. The official ACS B25071 GRAPI, which measures median gross rent as a percentage of household income, was 30.3%. This is 1.4 percentage points lower than the Massachusetts unweighted county mean for official GRAPI of 31.7%. The median income for all households was $95,939, while the median renter-household income was recorded at $52,395. These figures establish the median housing costs and corresponding incomes for both renters and owners as of the reporting period. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Worcester County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 30.3% of renter household income in Worcester County, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,426 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,932. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $57,040 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Massachusetts unweighted mean of county median rents is $1,616 per month. Worcester County's $1,426 median is 11.7% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Worcester County
Rent Burden
17.8%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$2,239
per month
Owner Cost Burden
24.2%
of gross income
The median home in Worcester County may be a stretch
Median home value is $423,700. Estimated monthly cost: $3,383 vs. your max of $2,239.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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