Worcester County Massachusetts Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Worcester County MA was $1,098 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Worcester County was $1,064 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 County median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Worcester County rental vacancy rates, Worcester County rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Worcester County.
Real Gross Rent in Worcester County 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 County MA Median Gross Rent | $1,098 | +1.01% | +8.28% |
Worcester County MA Real Gross Rent Trends
At $1,098, real median gross rent in Worcester County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. Average gross rent for Worcester County peaked in real terms in 2018 at $1,068 and is now $4 (0.37%) lower.
Real Gross Rent: Worcester County MA Median, Worcester County MA Average, Massachusetts Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Worcester County
| Date | US Median |
Massachusetts Median |
Worcester County MA Median |
Worcester County MA Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $1,360 | $1,098 | $1,064 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $1,318 | $1,087 | $1,068 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $1,246 | $1,019 | $1,013 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $1,235 | $1,014 | $1,002 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $1,235 | $1,041 | $1,019 |
| 2014 | $986 | $1,169 | $1,001 | $984 |
| 2013 | $953 | $1,134 | $975 | $978 |
| 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 County 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 County Massachusetts was 3.12% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Worcester County Massachusetts
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Massachusetts | 3.06% | -0.53% | -0.92% |
| Worcester County MA | 3.12% | -1.54% | -1.00% |
Trends in Worcester County MA Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Worcester County peaked in 2005 at 10.35%. Since then it has fallen by 7.23% to 3.12%. Data records for this series originated in 2005.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Worcester County MA, Massachusetts, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Worcester County
| Date | US | Massachusetts | Worcester County MA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 3.06% | 3.12% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 3.59% | 4.66% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 3.87% | 3.51% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 3.98% | 4.12% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 3.48% | 3.87% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 4.04% | 6.84% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 4.61% | 6.87% |
| 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 County, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Worcester County, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 16.82% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Worcester County 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 County MA | 16.82% | -1.02% | +0.05% |
Trends in Worcester County MA Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Worcester County household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2015 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 17.90%. Since then it has fallen by 1.09% to 16.82%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Worcester County MA, Massachusetts, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Worcester County Massachusetts
| Date | US | Massachusetts | Worcester County MA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 19.01% | 16.82% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 19.47% | 17.84% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 18.73% | 16.84% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 18.79% | 16.76% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 19.78% | 17.90% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 19.21% | 17.39% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 19.36% | 17.78% |
| 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 County Massachusetts
You can calculate the renter fraction in Worcester County 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 County as a fraction of total Worcester County households. In 2019 35.22% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Worcester County 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 County MA | 35.22% | +1.28% | -0.31% |
Trends in the Worcester County MA Renter Fraction
The Worcester County household renter fraction peaked in in 2017 at 36.51% and is now 1.29% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Worcester County MA, Massachusetts, US
History of Worcester County Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Massachusetts | Worcester County MA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 37.84% | 35.22% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 38.24% | 33.94% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 37.68% | 36.51% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 38.01% | 35.53% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 38.28% | 35.83% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 38.40% | 36.22% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 38.46% | 35.69% |
| 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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