Worcester County, Massachusetts Income Statistics
Worcester County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
-
B
Worcester County Around average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Worcester County | Massachusetts Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $95,680 | $104,336 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $72,730 | $80,230 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.5% | 4.9% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 16.9% | 20.6% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 17.3% | 22.3% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Worcester County is about 8% lower than in Massachusetts. Income has been growing slower in Worcester County (4.5%/yr) than in Massachusetts (4.9%/yr).
About 17% of adults in Worcester County 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 County, Massachusetts grew by 49.6% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $95,680 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.5% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Worcester County
| Metric | Worcester County | Massachusetts Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.531 | 0.531 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $82,581 | $90,842 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $68,289 | $75,629 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 17.3% | 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 County, it is 0.531, about the same as Massachusetts's 0.531, so income here is about as evenly distributed as there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 21% more than women's income in Worcester County, Massachusetts. Over a 35-year career, a 21% wage gap accumulates to roughly $500,220 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 County, Massachusetts has narrowed from about 25% to 17% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 26% in 2010. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $89 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Worcester County | Massachusetts Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3% | 5.1% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 15.6% | 18.6% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 23 | 25 | 22 |
Approximately 24,863 people are unemployed in Worcester County, Massachusetts.
The average commute time in Worcester County is 23 minutes, shorter than the 25 minutes in Massachusetts.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Worcester County, Massachusetts has fallen from 8.2% to 5.3% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 9.1% in 2013 and fell as low as 4.8% in 2020.
Worcester County, MA Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Worcester County, MA is the 2nd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 867,628 residents against a local median of 426,152. Where Worcester County, MA breaks from the counties next to it is unemployment, sitting 21% above the local median of 4.3% at 5.3%. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 3.5% on unemployment, so Worcester County, MA sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Worcester County, MA has the 4th lowest unemployment of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worcester County, MA | 867,628 | $95,680 #3/6 | 4.5%/yr #4/6 | 5.3% #4/6 | 0.531 #5/6 |
| Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region, CT | 78,384 | $92,667 | 3.9%/yr | 6.5% | 0.502 |
| Middlesex County, MA | 1,636,094 | $131,269 | 4.9%/yr | 4.3% | 0.515 |
| Providence County, RI | 663,899 | $78,766 | 5.7%/yr | 6.5% | 0.537 |
| Hillsborough County, NH | 426,152 | $103,775 | 4.5%/yr | 3.1% | 0.499 |
| Cheshire County, NH | 77,281 | $82,926 | 4.5%/yr | 3.3% | 0.506 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Worcester County, Massachusetts has an overall wealth 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 income and wealth in Worcester County, Massachusetts.
How Rich Is Worcester County, Massachusetts?
Worcester County has a wealth index grade of B. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a B grade means residents are quite well off compared to the U.S. average. The median household income is $95,680, about 8% lower than the Massachusetts average of $104,336.
Are incomes growing in Worcester County, Massachusetts?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Worcester County, Massachusetts rose 50%, from $63,957 to $95,680. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Massachusetts as a whole: +50% against +61%.
What was the median household income in Worcester County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Worcester County, Massachusetts was $93,605, up 5% from $89,206 in 2022. The Massachusetts median that year was $101,513.
What was the median household income in Worcester County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Worcester County, Massachusetts was $77,500. By 2024 it had risen 23% to $95,680.
What is the Gini coefficient in Worcester County, Massachusetts?
The Gini coefficient in Worcester County is 0.531. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Worcester County, Massachusetts?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Worcester County, Massachusetts has narrowed from about 25% to 17% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 26% in 2010. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $89 since 2009.
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