Health Profile of Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester Health Score
The Map AI Health Index is a score that reflects local life expectancy, disease rates, healthcare access, and physical environment to help you quickly compare the overall health and well-being of different areas.
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B
Worcester Around average
Source: Map AI Methodology
General Health Overview
| Metric | Worcester | Massachusetts Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life Expectancy (years) | 78.4 | 80.5 | 78.3 |
| Uninsured Population (%) | 3.9% | 2.6% | 8.4% |
| Self-Rated Poor Health | 15.1% | 11.8% | 16.3% |
Life expectancy in Worcester is 78.4 years, about 2.1 years shorter than the Massachusetts average of 80.5 years. The uninsured rate is 3.9%, higher than the Massachusetts average of 2.6%. Self-rated poor health is reported by 15.1% of residents, higher than the Massachusetts average of 11.8%.
Population by Age
Older residents
61,425 residents in Worcester are age 50 or older.
- 85+ 4,129 1,289 men · 2,840 women
- 75–84 7,571 3,035 men · 4,536 women
- 65–74 14,387 6,268 men · 8,118 women
- 50–64 35,339 17,692 men · 17,647 women
Younger residents
39,632 residents in Worcester are age 17 or younger.
- 12–17 12,171 6,457 boys · 5,715 girls
- 7–12 11,426 6,036 boys · 5,390 girls
- 3–7 9,049 4,975 boys · 4,074 girls
- 0–3 6,986 3,934 boys · 3,052 girls
About 8,901 residents in Worcester (4.3% of the population) are older than the area's life expectancy of 78.4 years.
The highlighted slice of the age axis is the share of residents older than the life-expectancy mark.
Disease Prevalence
| Disease / Condition | Worcester | Massachusetts Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes | 9.5% | 8.5% | 11.3% |
| Cancer | 5.5% | 6.9% | 6.9% |
| Heart Diseases | 5.6% | 5.8% | 7.1% |
| Adult Obesity | 32.5% | 25.6% | 34.3% |
The rate of obesity in Worcester is about 27% higher than in Massachusetts. The rate of cancer in Worcester is about 21% lower than in Massachusetts.
Health Behaviors
| Behavior | Worcester | Massachusetts Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smokers | 17.7% | 13.9% | 19.0% |
| Binge Drinking | 16.4% | 17.0% | 16.5% |
| Sedentary Lifestyle | 27.1% | 20.3% | 25.1% |
The rate of sedentary lifestyle in Worcester is about 33% higher than in Massachusetts. The rate of smoking in Worcester is about 27% higher than in Massachusetts.
Assuming each smoker smokes 10 cigarettes a day, that's about 294,636 cigarettes a day, 8.8 million a month, or 107.5 million a year! At 11 minutes* of life lost per cigarette, that's about 3.2 million minutes a day and 1.2 billion a year lost to smoking overall - and since life expectancy in Worcester is 78.4 years, that's roughly equivalent to 0.08 lifetimes a day, or 29 lifetimes a year.
* Source: Shaw M, Mitchell R, Dorling D. "Time for a smoke? One cigarette reduces your life by 11 minutes." BMJ. 2000;320:53.
Illustrative only. This is not an estimate of how many people actually die from smoking each day or year - it's a rough, order-of-magnitude comparison meant to help grasp the scale of smoking in this area. We take no responsibility for any decisions made based on this figure.
Air Quality
| Metric | Worcester | Massachusetts Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Pollution (μg/m³) | 6.62 | 5.71 | 6.09 |
With an annual average of 6.6 µg/m³ of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), air quality in Worcester is good — generally safe air quality for the vast majority of residents.
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Worcester, Massachusetts has an overall health index grade of B, making it about on par with Massachusetts, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about health in Worcester, Massachusetts.
How healthy is Worcester, Massachusetts?
Worcester, Massachusetts has a Map AI Health Index grade of B, based on life expectancy, disease rates, healthcare access, and the physical environment; a B grade means residents are somewhat healthier than the U.S. average.
How long do people live in Worcester, Massachusetts?
People in Worcester, Massachusetts can expect to live 78.4 years on average, 2.1 years shorter than the Massachusetts average of 80.5.
What percentage of Worcester, Massachusetts residents are uninsured?
3.9% of residents in Worcester, Massachusetts have no health insurance, about 1 in 25 people, 1.4 points above the Massachusetts rate of 2.6%.
What percentage of Worcester, Massachusetts residents are obese?
32.5% of adults in Worcester, Massachusetts are classified as obese, about 1 in 3, 6.8 points above the Massachusetts rate of 25.6%.
What is the biggest health concern in Worcester, Massachusetts?
Compared with Massachusetts as a whole, physical inactivity stands out most: the adult rate here is 27.1%, about 33% higher than the Massachusetts rate of 20.3%.
How many cigarettes do smokers in Worcester, Massachusetts go through, and how much life does that cost?
Assuming each smoker smokes 10 cigarettes a day, that's about 294,636 cigarettes a day, 8.8 million a month, or 107.5 million a year! At 11 minutes* of life lost per cigarette, that's about 3.2 million minutes a day and 1.2 billion a year lost to smoking overall - and since life expectancy in Worcester is 78.4 years, that's roughly equivalent to 0.08 lifetimes a day, or 29 lifetimes a year.
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