8 Reasons to Move to Worcester, MA
This stunning city in Massachusetts offers a wealth of advantages for families and new businesses.
As the second-largest city in New England, Worcester offers that special blend of both urban and suburban amenities. Here are eight reasons why it’s time to consider making a move to Worcester, MA.
In This Article
1. Enjoy Amazing Outings
Worcester has a robust menu of locally owned restaurants, such as Worcester Public Market, a food court full of international and regional flavors. There’s also Restaurant Row on Shrewsbury Street, where you’ll find independent restaurants highlighting the best local ingredients. Craving Vietnamese or Mexican? Worcester’s restaurants offer flavors from around the globe. There are more than half a dozen breweries, some featuring live music, meaning Worcester has what you need when you want to eat, drink and be merry.
The city also boasts a rich history and a diverse culture, with many museums, theaters, and galleries to explore. For sports fans, Polar Park is the home field of the Worcester Red Sox, an affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. The park was voted the best Triple-A ballpark in America in 2023 by Ballpark Digest.
“There are so many new restaurants and businesses,” says Steve Genatossio, lifelong Worcester resident and owner of Sneakerama, an independent shoe store that opened its doors in 1978. “We also have great entertainment and sports attractions. We have hockey and now minor league baseball that’s played in the top minor league park in America. It’s the biggest; it’s the newest; and it has the most attendance.”
“Polar Park is a perfect example of all the exciting things happening in Worcester.”
Steve Genatossio, lifelong Worcester resident
2. Be a Part of a Boomtown
Genatossio says he has seen an explosion of growth in Worcester over the last decade, primarily due to the availability of high-paying jobs, especially in health care and life sciences. “We have scientists, researchers and medical professionals who have come to the area from all over the world,” he says.
In fact, Worcester is home to eight institutions of higher education, which add diversity and vibrancy to the community.
“Worcester is a place with deep roots and a rich history, but with [several] colleges and universities in the area, we also have young kids coming here and breathing new life into the city. They’re bringing new and different cultures, which is fun and exciting and adds to the liveliness of the community,” says Jane Barnes, who owns BB&R Design Build, an interior design and construction firm, with her husband, Kevin.
Find Your Career Here
Worcester has a diverse economy with career opportunities in industries like manufacturing, education, health care and life sciences.
3. It’s the Perfect Location for Business
Kevin Barnes was introduced to Worcester as a student at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. After living elsewhere for a short time, the couple decided to relocate to the area and start their business.
“Geographically, Worcester is a great location for a business,” Kevin Barnes says. “We’re an hour west of Boston, but we’re also an hour outside of Providence [Rhode Island] and Hartford [Connecticut]. There are lots of really great old buildings for creating cool office spaces; our office is in an old mill.”
When it’s time to scale your business, the region has the collaborative network needed to do so as well.
“The Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce is a great asset and very supportive of businesses. In fact, the entire community really enjoys working together and supporting other Worcester businesses,” he says.
4. Entrepreneurs Can Excel in Worcester
For entrepreneurs considering a move to Worcester, the city offers numerous resources to support growing businesses. The Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce’s program, StartUp Worcester, attracts new businesses and helps them succeed. A hub for startups, WorcLab also offers office space to local innovators.
Massachusetts Biomedical Initiatives is another resource that promotes collaboration with public education systems, business leaders, and government officials, with the goal of job fostering creation and retention.
5. You Can Afford to Live Here
A move to Worcester won’t flatten your wallet. Here, you can enjoy a relatively affordable cost of living, and a housing market that is priced 47% lower than Boston, are other factors that make Worcester an attractive option for those looking to settle down. Safe neighborhoods and top-ranked schools are also among the city’s advantages.
An Early Start to Success
The Worcester YouthWorks employment program hosts the Worcester Youth Leadership Institute, a six-week summer program where participants are introduced to the business, government, education and nonprofit sectors through various immersive experiences.
6. Your Kids Will Receive an Excellent Education
Your children will be happy you made the move to Worcester, where Worcester Public Schools (WPS) offers a variety of programming to serve students of all backgrounds, from preschool through adulthood, with focus areas in the arts, technology, dual language, early literacy, and career/vocational technical education.
“As educators, it’s our responsibility to ensure students are problem-solvers, engaged global citizens, and curious about the world around them,” says Superintendent Rachel Monárrez.
WPS has enjoyed a lot of success preparing students for in-demand jobs, Monárrez says. Worcester Technical High School’s career/vocational technical education programs teach skills to countless graduates, who go on to secure high-demand jobs in fields like plumbing, electrical wiring, construction, environmental technology, veterinary science, early education, and many others.
WPS is also a highly diverse district – reflective of the community – with 74 different languages spoken by students.
“Being a highly diverse district is a tremendous asset of the Worcester Public Schools. When students and families come together with so many different cultures, languages, and lived experiences, we learn so much from one another and it really puts us all at an advantage,” Monárrez says.
7. Immerse Yourself in Culture
The City of Worcester has partnered with over 70 local cultural institutions to create the Worcester Cultural Coalition. Its mission is to highlight the region’s diverse cultural assets to encourage creativity and cultural identity. Beyond offering grants that support creative communities, the coalition maintains an events calendar that includes a roster of activities from book clubs to live jazz concerts, foraging to watercolor workshops.
8. Discover Urban Escapes
Even though Worcester is an urban hub, there are plenty of ways to escape from it all and explore the outdoors. The region is home to hiking and biking trails, wildlife sanctuaries, places to ski, and pristine waterways. Wachusett Mountain and Greater Worcester Land Trust trails are two popular options, as is Mass Audubon’s Broad Meadow Brook, the largest urban wildlife sanctuary in New England.
– Writer Rebecca Treon contributed to this article.
Get to Know Worcester
Want to learn more about living and working in Worcester, MA? Check out the latest edition of Livability Worcester, Massachusetts.
