Worcester County, Massachusetts Demographics 2026

Worcester County, Massachusetts has a population of 861,664, the 2nd most populous county in Massachusetts. The median household income is $93,561 and the median home value is $390,700. The poverty rate is 10.3%.

Worcester County Quick Facts

Population 861,664

Median Household Income $93,561

Median Home Value $390,700

Poverty Rate 10.3%

Unemployment Rate 5.3%

Median Age 40.3 years

Homeownership Rate 65.7%

Affordability Ratio 4.2x

Bachelor's Degree+ 39.0%

High School Graduation 91.3%

Cities/Places 5

Population 861,664 2nd of 14

Median Income $93,561 8% lower state

Poverty Rate 10.3%

Unemployment 5.3%

Median Household Income

Worcester

$93,561

$101,341

National

$78,538

Median Home Value

Worcester

$390,700

$525,800

National

$303,400

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 13.4%

$25K-$50K 14.3%

$50K-$100K 25.4%

$100K+ 46.9%

Employment

5.3% Unemployment Rate State: 5.1% | National: 5.2%

66.6% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 65.7%

Renter 34.3%

Affordability Index Moderate

4.2x home value to income ratio

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

20.8%

18-34

22.3%

35-54

26.0%

55-74

24.4%

75+

6.5%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Moderate Diversity

Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.

State average: 51 | National average: 60

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in Worcester County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Worcester city	205,501	$67,544	19.8%	$339,500
Leominster city	43,697	$81,556	10.1%	$345,000
Fitchburg city	41,633	$70,659	15.5%	$295,500
Gardner city	21,075	$62,948	14.3%	$271,300
Southbridge Town city	17,806	$59,397	16.2%	$267,000

Explore Massachusetts Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Worcester County is located in Massachusetts with a total population of 861,664. It is the 2nd most populous county out of 14 in Massachusetts. The county encompasses 5 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Worcester County is 40.3 years. This is about average than the state median of 40.0 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Worcester County is $93,561. This is 8% lower than the state median of $101,341. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 19% higher. The poverty rate stands at 10.3%. This is 4% higher than the state poverty rate of 10.0%. The unemployment rate is 5.3%. This is 4% higher than the state rate of 5.1%. The median home value is $390,700. Housing costs are 26% lower than the state median of $525,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.2x. 65.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 5% higher than the state average of 62.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Worcester County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 71.8% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 13.3%.

Education

39.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 16% lower than the state rate of 46.6%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 91.3%. Notably, 16.5% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Worcester County, Massachusetts?

Worcester County has a population of 861,664, making it the 2nd most populous county in Massachusetts.

What is the median income in Worcester County?

The median household income in Worcester County is $93,561 with a poverty rate of 10.3%.

How many cities are in Worcester County, Massachusetts?

Worcester County contains 5 Census-designated places.