Worcester Massachusetts Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Worcester, MA (the Worcester metro area) was $1,086 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Worcester was $1,050 in 2019. The median rent more accurately depicts rental rates in the middle of the distribution of rents and is thus preferred in the analysis below. 2020 Worcester median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Worcester rental vacancy rates, Worcester rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Worcester.
Real Gross Rent in Worcester Massachusetts (2019 dollars)2
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Median Gross Rent | $1,097 | +1.86% | +6.82% |
| Massachusetts Median Gross Rent | $1,360 | +3.19% | +10.12% |
| Worcester, MA Median Gross Rent | $1,086 | +1.31% | +8.38% |
Worcester, MA Real Gross Rent Trends
At $1,086, real median gross rent in Worcester was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. Average gross rent for Worcester peaked in real terms in 2018 at $1,053 and is now $3 (0.28%) lower.
Real Gross Rent in Worcester: Worcester MA Median, Worcester MA Average, Massachusetts Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Worcester
| Date | US Median |
Massachusetts Median |
Worcester, MA Median |
Worcester, MA Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $1,360 | $1,086 | $1,050 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $1,318 | $1,072 | $1,053 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $1,246 | $1,004 | $995 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $1,235 | $1,002 | $982 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $1,235 | $1,031 | $1,012 |
| 2014 | $986 | $1,169 | $984 | $966 |
| 2013 | $953 | $1,134 | $962 | $967 |
| 2012 | $940 | $1,102 | $949 | $927 |
| 2011 | $941 | $1,117 | $932 | $916 |
| 2010 | $955 | $1,127 | $969 | $957 |
| 2009 | $960 | $1,126 | $969 | $966 |
| 2007 | $927 | $1,111 | $961 | $901 |
| 2005 | $910 | $1,128 | $983 | $946 |
Worcester Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate is the fraction of homes for rent that are not occupied.3 In 2019 the rental vacancy rate for Worcester Massachusetts was 2.88% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Worcester Massachusetts
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Massachusetts | 3.06% | -0.53% | -0.92% |
| Worcester, MA | 2.88% | -1.58% | -1.25% |
Trends in Worcester, MA Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Worcester peaked in 2005 at 10.35%. Since then it has fallen by 7.47% to 2.88%. Data records for this series originated in 2005.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Worcester MA, Massachusetts, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Worcester
| Date | US | Massachusetts | Worcester, MA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 3.06% | 2.88% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 3.59% | 4.46% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 3.87% | 3.62% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 3.98% | 4.13% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 3.48% | 3.99% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 4.04% | 6.83% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 4.61% | 6.92% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 4.46% | 5.66% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 4.76% | 7.19% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 5.80% | 7.41% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 5.83% | 6.80% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 6.20% | 7.90% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 5.58% | 10.35% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Worcester, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Worcester, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 17.07% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Worcester Massachusetts Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 20.03% | -0.47% | -0.40% |
| Massachusetts | 19.01% | -0.45% | +0.22% |
| Worcester, MA | 17.07% | -0.76% | +0.12% |
Trends in Worcester, MA Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Worcester household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2018 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 17.83%. Since then it has fallen by 0.76% to 17.07%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Worcester MA, Massachusetts, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Worcester Massachusetts
| Date | US | Massachusetts | Worcester, MA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 19.01% | 17.07% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 19.47% | 17.83% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 18.73% | 16.84% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 18.79% | 16.95% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 19.78% | 17.83% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 19.21% | 17.32% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 19.36% | 17.75% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 19.03% | 17.13% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 19.74% | 17.12% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 19.51% | 17.00% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 18.50% | 16.10% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 18.20% | 15.84% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 18.93% | 16.99% |
Renter Fraction in Worcester Massachusetts
You can calculate the renter fraction in Worcester in at least two ways: by housing units or by population. I've gone with the housing units measure here. This measure looks at the number of renting households in Worcester as a fraction of total Worcester households. In 2019 35.13% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Worcester Fraction of Renters by Household Units
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 35.89% | -0.16% | -0.99% |
| Massachusetts | 37.84% | -0.40% | -0.17% |
| Worcester, MA | 35.13% | +1.42% | -0.19% |
Trends in the Worcester, MA Renter Fraction
The Worcester household renter fraction peaked in in 2017 at 35.78% and is now 0.65% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Worcester MA, Massachusetts, US
History of Worcester Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Massachusetts | Worcester, MA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 37.84% | 35.13% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 38.24% | 33.71% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 37.68% | 35.78% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 38.01% | 35.32% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 38.28% | 34.72% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 38.40% | 35.36% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 38.46% | 35.26% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 37.76% | 35.66% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 37.87% | 35.16% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 37.77% | 34.69% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 35.79% | 32.25% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 34.91% | 30.97% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 35.95% | 32.77% |
1. Gross rent is defined as contract rent plus the estimated average monthly cost of utilities (electricity, gas, water, and sewer) and fuel (oil, coal, kerosene, wood, etc.). Because some rentals include utilities and others don't, gross rent is a way of normalizing the variability. ↩
2. Real dollars are calculated using the CPI-U less shelter series. ↩
3. The rental vacancy rate is computed by dividing the number of vacant units for rent by the sum of the renter-occupied units, vacant units that are for rent, and vacant units that have been rented but not yet occupied. ↩
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