Where to Live in Worcester, MA

The colorful and varied neighborhoods of Worcester offer great housing options for any stage of life.

By Joe Morris on September 13, 2023

Jeff Adkins

Realtors love to emphasize the importance of “location, location, location” when choosing to buy or rent a home. If you are looking for a place to live in Worcester, MA, you’ll quickly realize that you can go “anywhere, anywhere, anywhere” because amazing neighborhoods are found in every direction.

Whether you’re someone looking for your first home, a growing family in need of more elbow room or an empty nester hoping to downsize, truly anyone can find a place that they are excited to call home in Worcester.

Great schools, public parks and green spaces, a vibrant nightlife – it’s all here. Just pick a direction and start exploring the city’s remarkable, eclectic mix of neighborhoods. Here’s a look at some of the great places to live in Worcester.

Looking for Walkability? Downtown Worcester

If you don’t own a car or prefer to get around another way, the downtown area offers plenty of housing options. Along with existing properties, there are several new developments offering varied floor plans and price points to choose from.

Downtown living also offers easy access to the city’s primary business district, as well as access to the WRTA, Union Station, and MBTA.

A short commute away, for instance, is the Worcester Common Oval, which offers everything from food trucks during the summertime to an ice-skating rink in the colder months. (For history buffs, it’s also where Isaiah Thomas publicly read the Declaration of Independence for the first time in 1776.)

Desire Vibrant Nightlife? Canal District

If the bright lights are calling, then the Canal District is where you want to spend your evenings. Spreading out from Kelley Square, great  neighborhoods like Green Island and the Canal District are within walking distance of restaurants, shops, a bustling indoor public market, and attractions like Polar Park, home of the minor league Worcester Red Sox team.

As the region continues to thrive, new developments are on the rise, coupling trendy amenities with an in-town vibe. The Canal Lofts, a renovated space in the Canal District, or Courthouse Lofts, an award-winning redesign of the former Worcester Courthouse into modern apartments, are just two examples of the many residences popping up in Worcester.

Need Room to Grow? Vernon Hill and Grafton Hill

The Vernon Hill neighborhood offers three-story and other large-scale houses for residents who anticipate the need for more living space in the near future.

Close to downtown, Grafton Hill is also a family-friendly area, offering easy access to some of the region’s most highly rated public high schools for those who have older children on a pre-collegiate track.

Jeff Adkins

Love the Past? Historic Districts

Where to even begin? Well, start with three designated Historic Districts – Massachusetts Avenue, Montvale, and Crown Hill – and go from there.

With its eye-catching architecture, Crown Hill is a shutterbug’s paradise, while Massachusetts Avenue is lined with Victorian-style homes. And if Queen Anne houses are your passion, Montvale is an absolute delight.

There’s some history to be found outside the actual homes, too. From Massachusetts Avenue, hike up Prospect Hill to Bancroft Tower and have a picnic in the shade of this feudal castle, while taking in the view of the city’s seven hills.

Want to Be Close to Nature? Lake Quinsigamond

There’s green in every direction here, so if living close to nature is the goal, it’s hard to go wrong. The Lake Park and Edgemere neighborhoods sit beside Lake Quinsigamond, while the Swedish-influenced Quinsigamond Village includes 34 wooded acres at Blackstone Gateway Park.

Indian Lake and Shore Park are easily accessible from Indian Hill, a company neighborhood that dates back to 1915.

So if you’re looking to live in Worcester, it’s easy to see that the city has something for everyone at any stage of life. When considering “location, location, location,” you can pretty much stick a pin anywhere on a city map and find just the right place to settle into.