Worcester, Massachusetts Income Statistics
Worcester Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of an area's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
-
D
Worcester Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Worcester | Massachusetts Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $69,562 | $104,336 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $58,386 | $80,230 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.5% | 4.9% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 9.7% | 20.6% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 9.3% | 22.3% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Worcester is about 33% lower than in Massachusetts. Income has been growing faster in Worcester (5.5%/yr) than in Massachusetts (4.9%/yr).
About 10% of adults in Worcester earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Massachusetts average of 21%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Worcester, Massachusetts grew by 51.1% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $69,562 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.5% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Worcester
| Metric | Worcester | Massachusetts Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.558 | 0.531 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $66,853 | $90,842 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $57,187 | $75,629 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 14.5% | 16.7% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Worcester, it is 0.558, higher than Massachusetts's 0.531, so income is less evenly distributed here than there, and higher than the US's 0.552, so income is less evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 17% more than women's income in Worcester, Massachusetts. Over a 35-year career, a 17% wage gap accumulates to roughly $338,310 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Worcester, Massachusetts has narrowed from about 15% to 14% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 16% in 2013, and was narrowest at 13% in 2019. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,597 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Worcester | Massachusetts Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5% | 5.1% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 11.5% | 18.6% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 20 | 25 | 22 |
Approximately 7,201 people are unemployed in Worcester, Massachusetts.
The average commute time in Worcester is 20 minutes, shorter than the 25 minutes in Massachusetts.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Worcester, Massachusetts has fallen from 9.2% to 6.5% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 11.0% in 2013 and fell as low as 5.0% in 2020.
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Worcester, Massachusetts has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it somewhat worse than Massachusetts, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Worcester, Massachusetts.
How Rich Is Worcester, Massachusetts?
Worcester has a wealth index grade of D. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a D grade means residents are somewhat worse off than the U.S. average. The median household income is $69,562, about 33% lower than the Massachusetts average of $104,336.
Are incomes growing in Worcester, Massachusetts?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Worcester, Massachusetts rose 51%, from $46,044 to $69,562. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Massachusetts as a whole: +51% against +61%.
What was the median household income in Worcester in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Worcester, Massachusetts was $68,044, up 8% from $63,227 in 2022. The Massachusetts median that year was $101,513.
What was the median household income in Worcester in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Worcester, Massachusetts was $51,497. By 2024 it had risen 35% to $69,562.
How strong is the job market in Worcester, Massachusetts?
Unemployment in Worcester, Massachusetts is 6.5%, well above the Massachusetts rate of 5.1%, so job seekers may face more competition than elsewhere.
What is the Gini coefficient in Worcester, Massachusetts?
The Gini coefficient in Worcester is 0.558. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is higher than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed less equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Worcester, Massachusetts?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Worcester, Massachusetts has narrowed from about 15% to 14% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 16% in 2013, and was narrowest at 13% in 2019. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,597 since 2009.
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