UPDATE: Check out our new 2023 Best Cities to Live in the U.S. list.
Worcester, MA is the #75 Best City to Live in the USA
| Worcester, MA Quality of Life Liv Score 606 How We Calculate Our Data |
|---|
| Civics | 36 |
| Demographics | 70 |
| Economy | 59 |
| Education | 53 |
| Health | 67 |
| Housing | 50 |
| Infrastructure | 44 |
| Amenities | 68 |
Why Worcester is one of the best cities to live in
Worcester, MA, just celebrated its tricentennial, and the “Heart of the Commonwealth” sure makes 300 years young look good. As one of the best places to live in the U.S., Worcester is an affordable and diverse city with sound transportation infrastructure, including a commuter rail that zips back and forth to Boston and an ultra-walkable downtown. In addition, locals in Worcester have a shared love for the arts, and there’s always something to do, whether that’s checking out one of the many independent restaurants on Shrewsbury Street’s ”Restaurant Row,” catching a Broadway show at the Hanover Theatre or hiking to a waterfall at Cascade Falls.
Worcester’s innovation economy has strong clusters of advanced manufacturing, robotics, biotech, computer sciences and other high-tech sectors. Manufacturing, education and health care are key industries.
Clark University, Worcester State University & Quinsigamond Community College
Warm summers and cold winters – you are up north, after all. The good news is that Worcester has an excellent regional airport in case you need an escape to somewhere warm for a long weekend in the winter.
Spend your weekends exploring the more than five dozen parks in the region. Some noteworthy ones include Salisbury Park, where you’ll find the 56-foot tall stone and granite Bancroft Tower that looks like a mini feudal castle, and Quinsigamond State Park, where you can sail or swim at Regatta Point.
Worcester, MA is Remote-Ready
Worcester provides residents with unique ways to create community while honing their skills. Be Studios is a coworking photography studio in the heart of downtown that focuses on amplifying the voices and talents of people of color. WorcLab is a 10,00-square-foot incubator space home to more than two dozen companies and is the city’s largest general incubator. Plus, on the days when workers have to go into the office, Worcester’s convenient location right outside of Boston cuts down on commute times.
What Locals Love in Worcester, MA
Worcester natives Jo and Huck Truesdell opened TidePool Bookshop, an independent store, in 2017 after retiring. The shop hosts book talks, readings, lectures and children’s story hours.
Recess gets a reboot at School Yahd, where you can play all types of games, including dodgeball, kickball, four square and life-sized board games like Candy Land.
On the first Sunday of the month, admission is free at the Worcester Art Museum, which has 38,000 objects and an impressive collection of arms and armors.
Enjoy brick oven pizza and rooftop views at The Mercantile.
There’s always something to smile about here! No, seriously! The smiley face was invented by Harvey Ball, an ad exec in Worcester.
An affordable cost of living, a strong economy and a vibrant arts scene and make Worcester a best place to live in Massachusetts.
Thinking of Moving to Worcester?
The Worcester, MA real estate market was ranked as one of the most competitive in the United States in 2022. The homes for sale in Worcester, MA, have a desirable median sale price of $383K, significantly less than Boston’s average, which makes it a popular metro area for Bostonians priced out of their market. The second-largest city in New England is also attractive to relocators due to its vibrant college-town vibe, even mix of single-detached homes and condos, recently renovated downtown, and short commute times. To learn more about the market in this area, reach out to a local real estate agent.
Quick Facts About Worcester, MA
- Average Commute
- 19.6
- Median Home Value
- $318,360
- Med. Household Income
- $57,200
- Total Population
- 206,976
- Walk Score
- 54
- Median Property Tax
- $5,091
