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Worcester, MA


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Worcester, Massachusetts

Introduction to Worcester, Massachusetts

Incorporated in 1722, Worcester is the third largest city in New England (behind Boston, Massachusetts and Providence, Rhode Island), and the second largest city in Massachusetts. Worcester has a population of approximately 175,000 people. According to U.S. Census estimates, the Worcester metropolitan statistical area had a population of approximately 750,000 people as of 2000.

Worcester is located in central Massachusetts. It is about an hour drive southwest from Boston, Massachusetts, an hour and ten minutes northeast of Hartford, Connecticut, and 50 minutes northwest of Providence, Rhode Island. Worcester is one of only a few cities to win the National Civic League's coveted "All-America City Award" five times. Worcester is also home to one Fortune 1000 corporate headquarters. Many others are located in communities near by.

Worcester's climate is characterized by four distinct seasons. Winters are cold and summers tend to be warm and humid. January is the coldest month of the year with an average daily temperature of 31 degrees Fahrenheit. July is the warmest month of the year with an average daily temperature of 79 degrees Fahrenheit. Worcester gets an average of almost 68 inches of snow during the winter.

Worcester Arts and Entertainment

For a city of modest size, Worcester provides a good assortment of arts and cultural offerings. Some of the more notable include:

  • The American Antiquarian Society
  • Ecotarium
  • The Foothills Theatre Company
  • The Higgins Armory Museum (the largest collection of arms and armor in the western hemisphere)
  • Musicians of the Old Post Road
  • Music Worcester
  • Opera Worcester
  • The Worcester Art Museum
  • The Worcester History Museum

Worcester is also a relatively short drive to all of the arts and cultural offerings of Boston, Massachusetts, Hartford, Connecticut, and Providence, Rhode Island.

For sports enthusiasts, Worcester's central location gives residents and visitors easy access to numerous professional sporting teams. Worcester itself is home to a professional baseball team, the Worcester Tornadoes, who play in the Canadian-American Association of Professional Baseball, or Can-Am League. Boston to the east is home to Major League Baseball's Boston Red Sox. For individuals who like minor league baseball action, nearby Pawtucket, RI is home Minor League Baseball's (MiLB) Pawtucket Red Sox, and Lowell, Massachusetts is home to the Lowell Spinners. The Red Sox are a Triple-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, and the Spinners are a Class A Short-Season affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. For individuals whose interest turns to hockey, the National Hockey League Boston Bruins play in Boston, and the the American Hockey League (AHL) Providence Bruins, play in Providence. Other nearby sports teams include Major League Soccer's (MLS) New England Revolution, the National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) Softball New England Riptide, the NBA's Boston Celtics, the NFL's New England Patriots, the United Soccer League's (USL) USL-W Division Boston Renegades, and World Team Tennis' (WTT) Boston Lobsters.

High Points

Worcester strengths, compared to Peers (similar size places nationally) or State (other places in Massachusetts):

CategoryTrophy
Racial Diversity
(vs. State)
Top 4%trophyWorcester Racial Diversity
Walking and Biking to Work
(vs. State)
Top 10%Worcester Walking and Biking to Work
Short Commute Times
(vs. State)
Top 14%Worcester Short Commute Times

Comparative Profile of Worcester, MA

Comparing Worcester to similar size places nationwide (Peers) and to other places in Massachusetts (State):

Ratings range from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).


The People

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers
Compared
to State
Senior Citizens107
Female Share of the Population88
Age of the Population71
Well-Paid Single Women63
Well-Paid Single Men52
Racial Diversity410
Male Share of the Population34
Children Under 5 Years Old37

Families

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers
Compared
to State
Average Household Size43
Portion of People Married41

Wealth

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers
Compared
to State
People in Middle Class or Better51
College Educated Adults53
Median Family Income41
People Above Poverty41

Commute & Sprawl

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers
Compared
to State
Walking and Biking to Work710
Short Commute Times79
Public Transportation Use78
Working at Home21

Housing

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers
Compared
to State
People Living Alone810
Seasonal and Vacation Housing74
Affordability of Rents68
Studio & One-Bedroom Rentals610
Affordability of Property Taxes37
Housing Recently Built12

Crime

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers
Compared
to State
Low Property Crime81
Low Violent Crime51

Detailed pages on related topics: Worcester collegesWorcester travelWorcester mortgage and property.

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Additional Details

Worcester CareersWorcester Careers
Worcester career and employment information.
Worcester CollegesWorcester Colleges
Worcester colleges and trade schools.
Worcester Hotels & TravelWorcester Hotels & Travel
Worcester hotels, landmarks, tourism, transportation.
Worcester MortgageWorcester Mortgage
Worcester property, mortgage, and real estate.

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Places Similar to Worcester

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Historic Worcester

photo

St. Paul's Church c1908.

Select a photo to view (Source):

St. Paul's Church c1908.

State Mutual Building c1908.

Clark University c1908.

Additional Resources


Large City Map

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