Central Massachusetts · Town guide
Living in Worcester, MA.
New England's second-largest city: colleges, a growing downtown and Canal District, commuter rail to Boston, and a deep supply of triple-deckers at a far lower median than Greater Boston.
Worcester at a glance
- Median single-family
- $465,000
- ▲ 3.3% vs. last year
- Median condo
- $308,500
- ▲ 6.4% vs. last year
- Days on market
- 40
- single-family, year to date
- Sale vs. original list
- 100.1%
- single-family, year to date
- Residential tax rate
- $13.28
- per $1,000, FY2026
- Population
- 211,286
- 2024 Census estimate, +2.3% since 2020
- To Boston
- 39 mi
- straight line to City Hall
- MBTA rail & ferry
- Commuter rail
Worcester market · August 2026 year to date
The numbers, before the opinions.
| Measure | Single-family | Condo |
|---|---|---|
| Median sale price | $465,000 | $308,500 |
| Change vs. last year | ▲ 3.3% | ▲ 6.4% |
| Sales closed | 562 | 156 |
| Median days on market | 40 | 46 |
| Sale price vs. original list | 100.1% | 98.8% |
| For sale at month end | 144 | 65 |
| Months of supply | 2.1 | 3.3 |
Source: Massachusetts Association of REALTORS®, Worcester Local Market Update (PDF, opens in a new tab) (MLS PIN data). Year-to-date figures except homes for sale and months of supply, which are for the latest month. A town median is a starting point; the right price is street by street.
Side by side · August 2026 year to date
How does Worcester compare with nearby towns?
| Town | Median single-family | Median condo | Days on market | Tax rate (FY2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worcester | $465,000 ▲ 3.3% | $308,500 | 40 | $13.28 |
| Auburn | $475,500 ▼ 1.3% | $360,000 | 34 | $14.24 |
| Shrewsbury | $699,000 ▼ 0.6% | $511,125 | 38 | $11.50 |
| Grafton | $740,000 ▲ 7.4% | $480,000 | 34 | $13.69 |
| Holden | $581,950 ▼ 5.4% | $360,000 | 35 | $13.48 |
| Westborough | $830,000 ▼ 0.3% | $539,995 | 51 | $15.93 |
Year-to-date medians from each town's MAR Local Market Update; tax rates per $1,000 from the Mass. Division of Local Services. Nearby = closest town centers among the towns I cover.
Town guide
What it's like to live in Worcester.
What is it like to live in Worcester?
Worcester is a big, diverse city built on hills, with a dozen colleges, major hospitals, a revitalized downtown, and the Canal District's restaurants and ballpark. It's where many buyers priced out of Greater Boston land.
Its triple-deckers make it one of the most important owner-occupant and investor markets in the state.
What are Worcester's neighborhoods like?
A quick orientation, not a ranking:
| Area | What it's like | Worth a look if you want |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown & the Canal District | Restaurants, Polar Park, newer apartments and condos | City living |
| West Side | Established residential neighborhoods near colleges and parks | Single-families and character homes |
| Tatnuck & Westwood Hills | Suburban neighborhoods on the west edge | More space |
| Grafton Hill & Shrewsbury Street | Older neighborhoods near the restaurant strip | Proximity to downtown |
| Main South & Webster Square | Dense neighborhoods with many triple-deckers | Multifamily value |
| Burncoat & Greendale | Residential neighborhoods in the north | Single-families at lower prices |
What does housing look like in Worcester?
Worcester has thousands of triple-deckers and two-families, single-families in neighborhoods like the West Side and Tatnuck, and condos downtown and in complexes around the city. I've helped a first-time buyer purchase a multifamily here.
How is the commute from Worcester to Boston?
Worcester is the western terminal of the MBTA's Framingham/Worcester Line into Boston, from Union Station downtown. The Mass Pike, I-290, and I-190 serve drivers. The commute to Boston is long; test it at rush hour.
Where do people spend time in Worcester?
- Polar Park and the Canal District
- Elm Park and Institute Park
- Lake Quinsigamond on the Shrewsbury line
- Downtown's theaters and restaurants
What should buyers and sellers know about Worcester?
- Worcester is very neighborhood-specific; compare within the area.
- Triple-deckers need thorough inspections of porches, heating, and electrical.
- Lead paint rules matter for rentals with children under six.
For public school information, see the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's school and district profiles (Worcester Public Schools).
Questions people actually ask.
Does Worcester have a train to Boston?
Yes. Union Station is the terminal of the MBTA's Framingham/Worcester commuter rail line into Boston.
Is Worcester a good place to buy a triple-decker?
It has one of the largest supplies of triple-deckers in the state and steady rental demand. The rents, condition, and price of the specific building decide.
MBTA stations in Worcester
- Commuter rail: Worcester (Framingham/Worcester Line)
Monthly cost calculator
What would a Worcester home cost per month?
Pre-filled with Worcester's median single-family price and its FY2026 tax rate. Change anything. This is an estimate for planning, not a loan quote.
How I help in Worcester
Three ways to start.
Buy in Worcester
What homes here actually sell for, what they cost to own, and an offer strategy you can defend.
Buying with XavierSell in Worcester
A price grounded in Worcester sales, a plan for what to fix, and a clear read on every offer.
Get a home valuationInvest in Worcester
Two- and three-families run as numbers: rents, expenses, financing, and condition.
Multifamily & investingQuick answers about Worcester.
What is the median home price in Worcester, MA?
The median single-family sale price in Worcester was $465,000 for August 2026 year to date, compared with $450,000 for the same period a year earlier. The median condo sold for $308,500. Source: Massachusetts Association of REALTORS® (MLS PIN data).
How fast are homes selling in Worcester?
Single-family homes that sold in Worcester during August 2026 year to date spent a median of about 40 days on market and sold for 100.1% of their original list price on average, according to MAR.
What is the property tax rate in Worcester, MA?
Worcester's FY2026 residential property tax rate is $13.28 per $1,000 of assessed value (Massachusetts Division of Local Services). On a home assessed at the median single-family sale price, that's roughly $6,180 a year; your actual bill depends on the assessed value.
Is there public transit from Worcester to Boston?
Yes. MBTA service in Worcester: commuter rail: Worcester (Framingham/Worcester Line). Check the MBTA's current schedules for times.
MLS listings
Worcester homes for sale right now.
Active and coming-soon listings in Worcester, through my Ruuster home search. Save a search to hear about new ones as they come on.
Search provided by Ruuster via HomeBase. Open the full Worcester search in a new tab (opens in a new tab). Listing information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
Buying or selling here?
Interested in Worcester?
Tell me what you're weighing: a street, a price range, a timeline. I'll send the recent sales that matter and what I'd watch for in Worcester specifically.
More Central Massachusetts towns
- Fitchburg
- Leominster
- Shrewsbury
- Westborough
- Marlborough
- Grafton
- Auburn
- Holden
- Gardner
- Clinton
- Uxbridge
- All towns
Sources: market figures, Massachusetts Association of REALTORS®, Local Market Update (data: MLS PIN; © ShowingTime Plus); tax rate, Massachusetts Division of Local Services, Municipal Databank, Tax Rates by Class; population, U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2024 population estimates for cities and towns; stations, MBTA (V3 API); distance, OpenStreetMap Nominatim (town center); miles are straight-line to Boston City Hall. Numbers retrieved 2026-09-25.