Metro area profile · Massachusetts
Worcester, MA metro area market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in the Worcester metro area, each scored against other metro areas.
- Population, 2025
- 888,502
- +3.7% since 2020
- Households
- 335,826
- Median household income
- $95,939
- Median home value
- $423,700
- Jobs located here
- 355,505
- Highest market score
- 90
- Clothing and shoe stores, #2 of 387 scored metro areas
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in the Worcester metro area by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of the Worcester metro area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
An estimated 888,502 people live in the Worcester metro area, in 335,826 households. Population estimates put the population change in the Worcester metro area from 2020 to 2025 at +3.7%, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). The median household income in the Worcester metro area is $95,939 a year, 19% above the U.S. median of $80,734.
Set against the U.S., households in the Worcester metro area spend the most on clothing, shoes and related services (an index of 123, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on gasoline and other fuels (79).
The highest Groundwork market scores in the Worcester metro area are for clothing and shoe stores (90); clothing, shoe and laundry businesses (88); and fast food and sandwich shops (84). The Worcester metro area ranks #2 of 387 scored metro areas for clothing and shoe stores.
The Worcester metro area is made up of one county, Worcester County. For its number of households, the Worcester metro area has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for pizza places (41% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for insurance agencies (46% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in the Worcester metro area
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares the Worcester metro area with other metro areas for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among metro areas | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clothing and shoe stores | 90 | #2 of 387 | 314 | 9.4 | $2.7M | 212 | 126 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 88 | #5 of 387 | 503 | 15.0 | $1.7M | 191 | 190 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 84 | #9 of 387 | 300 | 8.9 | $5M | 163 | 603 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 80 | #6 of 387 | 739 | 22.0 | Index only | 163 | 215 |
| Real estate | 79 | #10 of 387 | 924 | 27.5 | Index only | 164 | 470 |
| Home inspectors | 78 | #9 of 243 | 14 | 0.4 | Index only | 179 | 17 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 78 | #21 of 387 | 2,074 | 61.8 | $214K | 140 | 897 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 78 | #22 of 387 | 3,064 | 91.2 | $486K | 131 | 1,463 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | 77 | #9 of 197 | 12 | 0.4 | $36.9M | 150 | 17 |
| Pest control | 76 | #19 of 345 | 36 | 1.1 | $13.2M | 129 | 25 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 76 | #26 of 387 | 1,656 | 49.3 | $900K | 136 | 602 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 76 | #35 of 387 | 163 | 4.9 | $2.7M | 153 | 342 |
| Property management | 75 | #17 of 374 | 76 | 2.3 | Index only | 156 | 140 |
| Chiropractors | 75 | #26 of 386 | 132 | 3.9 | $3.4M | 140 | 62 |
| Physical therapy | 75 | #28 of 386 | 142 | 4.2 | $3.1M | 130 | 83 |
| Grocery stores | 75 | #37 of 387 | 187 | 5.6 | $12.9M | 139 | 131 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 73 | #21 of 373 | 95 | 2.8 | Index only | 177 | 48 |
| Tire shops | 72 | #51 of 386 | 76 | 2.3 | $4M | 160 | 36 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 71 | #40 of 386 | 123 | 3.7 | $3.6M | 115 | 42 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 70 | #49 of 387 | 194 | 5.8 | $6M | 127 | 328 |
| Roofing and gutters | 69 | #48 of 381 | 136 | 4.0 | $8.6M | 102 | 58 |
| Dry cleaners | 67 | #41 of 272 | 35 | 1.0 | $24.2M | 154 | 39 |
| Hair salons | 67 | #49 of 387 | 750 | 22.3 | $497K | 115 | 215 |
| Oil change and quick lube | 67 | #57 of 290 | 14 | 0.4 | $21.8M | 159 | 22 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 67 | #59 of 387 | 303 | 9.0 | $4.9M | 133 | 248 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 67 | #73 of 387 | 574 | 17.1 | $4.2M | 124 | 299 |
| Insurance agencies | 67 | #97 of 387 | 286 | 8.5 | $1.9M | 149 | 236 |
| Home repair trades | 64 | #81 of 387 | 441 | 13.1 | $2.7M | 109 | 720 |
| Laundromats | 63 | #103 of 364 | 59 | 1.8 | $14.4M | 115 | 25 |
| Barbershops | 60 | #117 of 387 | 224 | 6.7 | $1.7M | 88 | 14 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 59 | #95 of 387 | 1,590 | 47.3 | $234K | 110 | 415 |
| Gyms | 58 | #117 of 387 | 299 | 8.9 | $1.3M | 97 | 115 |
| Child care and preschools | 58 | #140 of 387 | 240 | 7.1 | $993K | 99 | 232 |
| Convenience stores | 58 | #149 of 387 | 282 | 8.4 | $8.5M | 108 | 168 |
| Nail salons | 57 | #132 of 387 | 193 | 5.7 | $1.9M | 115 | 89 |
| Pizza | 57 | #137 of 387 | 379 | 11.3 | $3.9M | 77 | 603 |
| Spas and skin care | 55 | #149 of 387 | 395 | 11.8 | $943K | 108 | 90 |
| House cleaning | 51 | #175 of 375 | 83 | 2.5 | $5.7M | 90 | 200 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 50 | #190 of 387 | 617 | 18.4 | $609K | 92 | 259 |
| Electricians | 50 | #196 of 383 | 111 | 3.3 | $10.5M | 88 | 334 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 49 | #176 of 347 | 100 | 3.0 | $3.8M | 93 | 115 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 49 | #204 of 387 | 367 | 10.9 | $4.1M | 98 | 286 |
| Funeral homes | 48 | #193 of 377 | 85 | 2.5 | $564K | 83 | 40 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 46 | #207 of 387 | 339 | 10.1 | $1.4M | 84 | 739 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 46 | #216 of 387 | 451 | 13.4 | $983K | 100 | 351 |
| Car washes and detailing | 46 | #229 of 387 | 129 | 3.8 | $2.4M | 94 | 62 |
| Pet stores | 44 | #239 of 382 | 59 | 1.8 | $4.2M | 92 | 25 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 44 | #253 of 387 | 218 | 6.5 | $1.7M | 85 | 144 |
| Gas stations | 42 | #249 of 387 | 318 | 9.5 | $2.2M | 90 | 281 |
| Auto repair and car care | 42 | #259 of 387 | 1,181 | 35.2 | $258K | 96 | 558 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 41 | #246 of 385 | 220 | 6.6 | $2.2M | 74 | 514 |
| Veterinarians | 40 | #259 of 384 | 119 | 3.5 | $2.1M | 76 | 78 |
| Auto repair shops | 35 | #302 of 387 | 759 | 22.6 | $402K | 90 | 427 |
| Pet businesses | 32 | #325 of 387 | 379 | 11.3 | $648K | 74 | 190 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 25 | #343 of 381 | 136 | 4.0 | $2.2M | 73 | 131 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 25 | #356 of 386 | 148 | 4.4 | $1.7M | 65 | 87 |
Household spending in the Worcester metro area
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $305.1M | $909 | 95 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $685.9M | $2,042 | 79 |
| Food away from home | $1.5B | $4,437 | 109 |
| Groceries | $2.4B | $7,174 | 114 |
| Personal care products and services | $372.4M | $1,109 | 110 |
| Child care and other personal services | $238.4M | $710 | 122 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $375.7M | $1,119 | 114 |
| Medical and dental services | $443.1M | $1,319 | 102 |
| Pets | $245.6M | $731 | 80 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $847.2M | $2,523 | 123 |
| Vehicle insurance | $534.8M | $1,592 | 81 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $1.2B | $3,481 | 115 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $475.2M | $1,415 | 100 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $6.6B | $19,573 | 117 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in the Worcester metro area
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 888,502+3.7% since 2020
- Households
- 335,826
- Median age
- 41.3
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 66%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.8
- Land area
- 1,511 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 574
- Median household income
- $95,939
- Average household income
- $124,653
- Median home value
- $423,700
- Jobs located here
- 355,505
- Daytime population
- 797,239Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in the Worcester metro area?
These figures cover the whole metro area. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of the Worcester metro area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Counties in the Worcester metro area 1
- Worcester County, MA867,788 people
Other markets based in Massachusetts 8
- Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area4,953,354 people
- Springfield, MA metro area462,815 people
- Barnstable Town, MA metro area231,668 people
- Amherst Town-Northampton, MA metro area162,028 people
- Pittsfield, MA metro area129,430 people
- Greenfield, MA area70,944 people
- Vineyard Haven, MA area20,933 people
- Nantucket, MA area14,483 people
Questions
How fast is the Worcester, MA metro area growing?
Population estimates put the Worcester metro area at 888,502 people in 2025, up 3.7% since 2020, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 335,826 households.
How much do households in the Worcester, MA metro area spend?
Households in the Worcester metro area spend about $6.6B a year on rent and homeowner costs, $2.4B on groceries and $1.5B on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in the Worcester metro area runs highest on clothing, shoes and related services (an index of 123, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on gasoline and other fuels (79).
Which business types have the highest market scores in the Worcester, MA metro area?
Of the business types scored in the Worcester metro area, clothing and shoe stores (90); clothing, shoe and laundry businesses (88); and fast food and sandwich shops (84) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For clothing and shoe stores, that ranks #2 of 387 scored metro areas.
How does the Worcester, MA metro area compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in the Worcester metro area is $95,939, 19% above the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 3.7% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $423,700, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for pizza places (41% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for insurance agencies (46% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. All 56 business types have a score in the Worcester metro area, each ranked against other metro areas.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in the Worcester metro area. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
All markets in Massachusetts · Every U.S. market · How we measure
Screening a site or an acquisition in the Worcester metro area?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of the Worcester metro area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.