Worcester, MA

Census Place

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Population

185,195

0.245% 1-year growth

US Senator

Elizabeth Warren

Democratic Party

US Senator

Ed Markey

Democratic Party

Median Age

34.4

Poverty Rate

21.1%

Median Household Income

$46,407

1.17% 1-year growth

Median Property Value

$220,700

4.8% 1-year growth

Number of Employees

85,586

0.686% 1-year decline

About

In 2018, Worcester, MA had a population of 185k people with a median age of 34.4 and a median household income of $46,407. Between 2017 and 2018 the population of Worcester, MA grew from 184,743 to 185,195, a 0.245% increase and its median household income grew from $45,869 to $46,407, a 1.17% increase.

The 5 largest ethnic groups in Worcester, MA are White (Non-Hispanic) (56.2%), White (Hispanic) (12.8%), Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (11.9%), Asian (Non-Hispanic) (7.57%), and Other (Hispanic) (5.17%). NaNk% of the people in Worcester, MA speak a non-English language, and 89.2% are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Worcester, MA are Worcester Polytechnic Institute (1,969 degrees awarded in 2017), Worcester State University (1,552 degrees), and Quinsigamond Community College (1,340 degrees).

The median property value in Worcester, MA is $220,700, and the homeownership rate is 41.9%. Most people in Worcester, MA commute by Drove Alone, and the average commute time is 23.3 minutes. The average car ownership in Worcester, MA is 2 cars per household.

About the photo: Worcester public library

Photo by LEONARDO DASILVA

United States Massachusetts Worcester County, MA Worcester, MA-CT Worcester City PUMA, MA

COVID-19

Daily New Cases by Date

Showing data at the state level for Massachusetts. Hospitalization data for some states may be delayed or not reported.

This chart shows the number of COVID-19 daily new cases by date in Massachusetts, as a 7-day rolling average, compared with the four states with the most similar number of confirmed cases.

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Impact on Employment

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Massachusetts.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in Massachusetts (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

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Community Mobility

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Massachusetts.

This chart presents movement trends over time in the state of Massachusetts across different categories of places such as retail and recreation, groceries and pharmacies, parks, transit stations, workplaces, and residential.

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Civics

In the 2016 presidential election, the popular vote in Worcester County, MA went to Hillary Rodham Clinton with 51.8% of the vote. The runner-up was Donald J. Trump (41.1%), followed by Other (7.1%). The most partisan county was Suffolk County, MA with 79.6% of the vote going to Hillary Rodham Clinton running for the Democratic Party.

Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey are the senators currently representing the state of Massachusetts. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

Massachusetts is currently represented by 9 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

Presidential Popular Vote Over Time

Voting results are not available for Worcester, MA. Showing the available data for Worcester County, MA.

Showing data up to the 2016 election. Updated election results are currently being processed, and will be released in the coming months.

2016 Election Results

Hillary Rodham Clinton (51.8%)
Democratic Party
Donald J. Trump (41.1%)
Republican Party
Other (7.1%)
Other Party

In the 2016 presidential election, the popular vote in Massachusetts went to Hillary Rodham Clinton with 51.8% of the vote. The runner-up was Donald J. Trump (41.1%), followed by Other (7.1%).

The following chart shows the popular vote results in Massachusetts for each registered party from 1976 to 2016.

Presidential Popular Vote by County

Presidential voting results are only available at the county level. Showing data for the counties inside of Massachusetts.

Showing data up to the 2016 election. Updated election results are currently being processed, and will be released in the coming months.

Hillary Rodham Clinton

Popular Vote for Worcester County, MA

51.8% for the Democratic Party

Most Partisan Counties in Massachusetts

Suffolk County, MA
79.6% for Hillary Rodham Clinton (Democratic Party)
Dukes County, MA
73% for Hillary Rodham Clinton (Democratic Party)
Berkshire County, MA
67.5% for Hillary Rodham Clinton (Democratic Party)

In the 2016 presidential election, the most partisan county in Massachusetts was Suffolk County, MA with 79.6% of the vote going to Hillary Rodham Clinton running for the Democratic Party.

The following map shows the counties in Massachusetts colored by their party leaning.

US Senators from Massachusetts

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for Massachusetts.

Elizabeth Warren

Senator from Massachusetts

Assumed office on January 3, 2013

Ed Markey

Senator from Massachusetts

Assumed office on July 16, 2013
Elected to the seat to succeed Mo Cowan, who had been appointed to replace John Kerry, who had become Secretary of State.

Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey are the senators currently representing Massachusetts.

In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

The following chart shows elected senators in Massachusetts over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

US Representatives from Massachusetts

Massachusetts is currently represented by 9 members in the U.S. house.

Members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms, and the following chart shows the how the members for Massachusetts have changed over time starting in 2008.

Diversity

Worcester, MA is home to a population of 185k people, from which 89.2% are citizens. As of 2018, 21.3% of Worcester, MA residents were born outside of the country (39.5k people).

In 2018, there were 4.39 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (104k people) in Worcester, MA than any other race or ethnicity. There were 23.7k White (Hispanic) and 22.1k Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Worcester, MA

White (Non-Hispanic)
104k ± 1.75k
White (Hispanic)
23.7k ± 1.72k
Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
22.1k ± 1.4k

21.3%

Hispanic Population

39.5k people

21.3% of the people in Worcester, MA are hispanic (39.5k people).

The following chart shows the 7 races represented in Worcester, MA as a share of the total population.

Heritage

Foreign-Born Population

21.3%

2018 Foreign-Born Population

39.5k people

21.1%

2017 Foreign-Born Population

39k people

As of 2018, 21.3% of Worcester, MA residents (39.5k people) were born outside of the United States, which is higher than the national average of 13.7%. In 2017, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Worcester, MA was 21.1%, meaning that the rate has been increasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Worcester, MA compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Age by Nativity

Median Native-Born Age

± 0.6

Median Foreign-Born Age

± 0.8

In 2018, the median age of all people in Worcester, MA was 34.4. Native-born citizens, with a median age of 32, were generally younger than than foreign-born citizens, with a median age of 41. But people in Worcester, MA are getting getting older. In 2017, the average age of all Worcester, MA residents was 34.

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the Place level, so we are showing data for Massachusetts.

Most Common Origin

China
88,014 ± 7,236 people
Dominican Republic
84,884 ± 7,108 people
Brazil
66,506 ± 6,300 people

In 2017, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Massachusetts was China, the natal country of 88,014 Massachusetts residents, followed by Dominican Republic with 84,884 and Brazil with 66,506.

Citizenship

89.2%

2018 Citizenship

88.8%

2017 Citizenship

As of 2018, 89.2% of Worcester, MA residents were US citizens, which is lower than the national average of 93.2%. In 2017, the percentage of US citizens in Worcester, MA was 88.8%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been increasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Worcester, MA compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
2,364 ± 340
Gulf War (2001-)
1,079 ± 203
Gulf War (1990s)
776 ± 197

Worcester, MA has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 2.19 times greater than any other conflict.

Economy

Median household income in Worcester, MA is $46,407. In 2018, the place with the highest Median Household Income in Worcester, MA was Census Tract 7308.01 with a value of $95,217, followed by Census Tract 7309.02 and Census Tract 7301, with respective values of $92,672 and $80,648.

Males in Massachusetts have an average income that is 1.34 times higher than the average income of females, which is $62,850. The income inequality in Massachusetts (measured using the Gini index) is 0.485, which is higher than than the national average.

The economy of Worcester, MA employs 85.6k people. The largest industries in Worcester, MA are Health Care & Social Assistance (17,559 people), Educational Services (10,300 people), and Retail Trade (10,145 people), and the highest paying industries are Utilities ($76,971), Public Administration ($57,897), and Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services ($56,051).

Wages

Median Household Income

$46,407

2018 value

± $1,717

1.17%

1 Year Growth

± 5.14%

Households in Worcester, MA have a median annual income of $46,407, which is less than the median annual income of $61,937 across the entire United States. This is in comparison to a median income of $45,869 in 2017, which represents a 1.17% annual growth.

The following chart shows how the median household income in Worcester, MA compares to that of its neighboring and parent geographies.

Wage by Gender in Common Jobs

The PUMS dataset is not available at the Place level, so we are showing data for Massachusetts.

$84,043

Average Male Salary in Massachusetts

± $1,786

$62,850

Average Female Salary in Massachusetts

± $1,306

In 2017, full-time male employees in Massachusetts made 1.34 times more than female employees.

This chart shows the gender-based wage disparity in the 5 most common occupations in Massachusetts by number of full-time employees.

Wage by Race and Ethnicity in Common Jobs

The PUMS dataset is not available at the Place level, so we are showing data for Massachusetts.

Highest Average Salaries by Race & Ethnicity in Massachusetts

Asian
$68,516 ± $4,051
White
$64,668 ± $1,113
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
$49,586 ± $39,015

In 2017 the highest paid race/ethnicity of Massachusetts workers was Asian. These workers were paid 1.06 times more than White workers, who made the second highest salary of any race/ethnicity in Massachusetts.

This chart shows the race- and ethnicity-based wage disparities in the 5 most common occupations in Massachusetts by number of full-time employees.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Worcester, MA is from Massachusetts.

0.485

2017 Wage GINI in Massachusetts

0.485

2016 Wage GINI in Massachusetts

In 2017, the income inequality in Massachusetts was 0.485 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.0457% growth from 2016 to 2017, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat less even. The GINI for Massachusetts was higher than than the national average of 0.479. In other words, wages are distributed less evenly in Massachusetts in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in Massachusetts across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Income by Location

Use the dropdown to filter by race/ethnicity.

Highest Median Household Income (Total)

Census Tract 7308.01
Census Tract 7309.02
Census Tract 7301

In 2018, the place with the highest Median Household Income (Total) in Worcester, MA was Census Tract 7308.01 with a value of $95,217, followed by Census Tract 7309.02 and Census Tract 7301, with respective values of $92,672 and $80,648.

The following map shows all of the places in Worcester, MA colored by their Median Household Income (Total).

Poverty by Age and Gender

Females 25 - 34

Largest Demographic Living in Poverty

21.1% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Worcester, MA (36.4k out of 172k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 13.1%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 25 - 34, followed by Females 18 - 24 and then Males 18 - 24.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

Poverty by Race and Ethnicity

Largest Race or Ethnicity Living in Poverty

White
24,274 ± 1,226
Hispanic
12,682 ± 901
Black
4,551 ± 513

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Worcester, MA is White, followed by Hispanic and Black.

Occupations

Employment by Occupations

85.6k

2018 Value

± 2,140

-0.686%

1 Year decline

± 3.49%

From 2017 to 2018, employment in Worcester, MA declined at a rate of -0.686%, from 86.2k employees to 85.6k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Worcester, MA, are Office & Administrative Support Occupations (10,648 people), Sales & Related Occupations (7,610 people), and Education Instruction, & Library Occupations (5,961 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Worcester, MA.

Most Common

The most common jobs held by residents of Worcester, MA, by number of employees, are Office & Administrative Support Occupations (10,648 people), Sales & Related Occupations (7,610 people), and Education Instruction, & Library Occupations (5,961 people).

Most Specialized

Compared to other places, Worcester, MA has an unusually high number of residents working as Healthcare Support Occupations (1.88 times higher than expected), Life, Physical, & Social Science Occupations (1.85 times), and Community & Social Service Occupations (1.73 times).

Highest Paid

The highest paid jobs held by residents of Worcester, MA, by median earnings, are Computer & Mathematical Occupations ($78,813), Health Diagnosing & Treating Practitioners & Other Technical Occupations ($70,602), and Legal Occupations ($68,581).

Industries

Employment by Industries

85.6k

2018 Value

± 2,140

-0.686%

1 Year decline

± 3.49%

From 2017 to 2018, employment in Worcester, MA declined at a rate of -0.686%, from 86.2k employees to 85.6k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Worcester, MA, are Health Care & Social Assistance (17,559 people), Educational Services (10,300 people), and Retail Trade (10,145 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Worcester, MA, though some of these residents may live in Worcester, MA and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Most Common

The most common industries in Worcester, MA, by number of employees, are Health Care & Social Assistance (17,559 people), Educational Services (10,300 people), and Retail Trade (10,145 people).

Most Specialized

Compared to other places, Worcester, MA has an unusually high number of Health Care & Social Assistance (1.48 times higher than expected), Educational Services (1.3 times), and Retail Trade (1.05 times) industries.

Highest Paying

The highest paying industries in Worcester, MA, by median earnings, are Utilities ($76,971), Public Administration ($57,897), and Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services ($56,051).

Domestic Trade

Domestic Production & Consumption

Domestic production and consumption consists of products and services shipped from Massachusetts to other states, or from other states to Massachusetts.

Top Domestic Production in Dollars

Gasoline
$31.5B
Mixed freight
$27.2B
Electronics
$24.1B

In 2015, the top outbound Massachusetts product (by dollars) was Gasoline with $31.5B, followed by Mixed freight ($27.2B) and Electronics ($24.1B).

The following chart shows the share of these products in relation to all outbound Massachusetts products.

Domestic Trade Growth

Showing data for Massachusetts.

$240B

2015 Value in Massachusetts

$364B

Projected 2045 Value in Massachusetts

51.4% growth

In 2015, total outbound Massachusetts trade was $240B. This is expected to increase 51.4% to $364B by 2045.

The following chart shows how the domestic outbound Massachusetts trade is projected to change in comparison to its neighboring states.

Interstate Trade

Interstate trade consists of products and services shipped from Massachusetts to other states, or from other states to Massachusetts.

Most Common Trade Partners

New Hampshire
$13.2B
New York
$13.2B
Connecticut
$12.7B

In 2015, the top outbound Massachusetts domestic partner for goods and services (by dollars) was New Hampshire with $13.2B, followed by New York with $13.2B and Connecticut and $12.7B.

The following map shows the amount of trade that Massachusetts shares with each state (excluding itself).

Education

In 2017, universities in Worcester, MA awarded 8,539 degrees. The student population of Worcester, MA is skewed towards women, with 14,896 male students and 17,413 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Worcester, MA are White (5,352 and 70%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (743 and 9.72%), Unknown (570 and 7.46%), and Black or African American (424 and 5.55%).

The largest universities in Worcester, MA by number of degrees awarded are Worcester Polytechnic Institute (1,969 and 23.1%), Worcester State University (1,552 and 18.2%), and Quinsigamond Community College (1,340 and 15.7%).

The most popular majors in Worcester, MA are General Business Administration & Management (725 and 8.49%), General Psychology (460 and 5.39%), and Registered Nursing (293 and 3.43%).

The median tuition costs in Worcester, MA are $44,050 for private four year colleges, and $970 and $7,050 respectively, for public four year colleges for in-state students and out-of-state students.

Concentrations

Most Common

General Business Administration & Management
321 degree-majorss awarded
General Biological Sciences
261 degree-majorss awarded
General Psychology
453 degree-majorss awarded

In 2015, the most common concentation for Bachelors Degree recipients in Worcester, MA was General Business Administration & Management with 321 degree-majorss awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Bachelors Degree from schools in Worcester, MA according to their major.

Universities

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

Worcester Polytechnic Institute
1,969 degrees awarded
Worcester State University
1,552 degrees awarded
Quinsigamond Community College
1,340 degrees awarded

$970

Median In-State Public

$44,050

Median Private

In 2017, the Worcester, MA institution with the largest number of graduating students was Worcester Polytechnic Institute with 1,969 degrees awarded.

Student Gender for Common Institutions

3,782

Degrees Awarded to Men

4,757

Degrees Awarded to Women

In 2017, 3,782 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Worcester, MA, which is 0.795 times less than the 4,757 female students who received degrees in the same year.

This chart displays the gender disparity between the top 5 institutions in Worcester, MA by degrees awarded.

Student Race and Ethnicity

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity

White
5,352 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
743 degrees awarded
Unknown
570 degrees awarded

In 2017 the majority of degrees awarded at institutions in Worcester, MA were to White students. These 5,352 degrees mean that there were 7.2 times more White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Hispanic or Latino, with 743 degrees awarded.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Worcester, MA was $220,700 in 2018, which is 0.961 times smaller than the national average of $229,700. Between 2017 and 2018 the median property value increased from $210,600 to $220,700, a 4.8% increase. The homeownership rate in Worcester, MA is 41.9%, which is lower than the national average of 63.9%. People in Worcester, MA have an average commute time of 23.3 minutes, and they commute by Drove Alone. Car ownership in Worcester, MA is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Housing

Property Value

$220,700

2018 Median

± $2,904

$210,600

2017 Median

± $2,631

In 2018, the median property value in Worcester, MA grew to to $220,700 from the previous year's value of $210,600.

The following charts display, first, the property values in Worcester, MA compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies and, second, owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property value buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Worcester, MA the largest share of households have a property value in the N/A range.

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$46,407

Median Household Income

± $1,717

71.1k

Number of Households

± 1,878

In 2018, the median household income of the 71.1k households in Worcester, MA grew to $46,407 from the previous year's value of $45,869.

The following chart displays the households in Worcester, MA distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the < $10k range.

Property Taxes

$3k+

Average Range

This chart shows the households in Worcester, MA distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Worcester, MA the largest share of households pay taxes in the $3k+ range.

Rent vs Own

41.9%

2018 Homeownership

42.1%

2017 Homeownership

In 2018, 41.9% of the housing units in Worcester, MA were occupied by their owner. This percentage declined from the previous year's rate of 42.1%.

This percentage of owner-occupation is lower than the national average of 63.9%. This chart shows the ownership percentage in Worcester, MA compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Commute Time

23.3 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Worcester, MA have a shorter commute time (23.3 minutes) than the normal US worker (25.3 minutes). Additionally, 2.28% of the workforce in Worcester, MA have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Worcester, MA compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Method of Travel

Drove Alone
72.6%
Carpooled
10.6%
Walked
6.59%

In 2018, the most common method of travel for workers in Worcester, MA was Drove Alone (72.6%), followed by those who Carpooled (10.6%) and those who Walked (6.59%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

Transportation

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Worcester, MA distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Worcester, MA have 2 cars, followed by 1 car.

Health

97% of the population of Worcester, MA has health coverage, with 43.1% on employee plans, 32.7% on Medicaid, 7.85% on Medicare, 12.6% on non-group plans, and 0.753% on military or VA plans.

Per capita personal health care spending in Massachusetts was $10,559 in 2014. This is a 2.78% increase from the previous year ($10,273).

Primary care physicians in Worcester County, MA see 971 patients per year on average, which represents a 0.103% increase from the previous year (970 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1411 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 226 patients per year.

Comparing across all counties in the state, Bristol County has the highest prevalence of diabetes (11.4%). Additionally, Bristol County has the highest prevalence of adult obesity (29.1%)

Patient to Clinician Ratios

Data is only available at the country level. Showing data for Worcester County, MA.

971 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Worcester County, MA

Primary care physicians in Worcester County, MA see an average of 971 patients per year. This represents a 0.103% increase from the previous year (970 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in Worcester County, MA in comparison to its neighboring geographies.

Behavioral Health Conditions

Data only available at the state level.

State with the Highest Prevalence

West Virginia
8.26% of the population affected
Arkansas
8.13% of the population affected
New Hampshire
7.98% of the population affected

In 2016, West Virginia had the highest prevalence of adults with major depressive episode, with 8.26% of the population affected. The second highest is Arkansas (8.13%), followed by New Hampshire (7.98%).

The following map shows the percent of individuals with major depressive episode by state over multiple years.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals
Florida
4,915 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798. New York has the second highest (5,087), followed by Florida (4,915).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

Access and Quality

Data only available at state level.

Most prevalent states

Mississippi
19.2% of adults
Texas
17.9% of adults
Louisiana
17.6% of adults

In 2016, Mississippi had the highest prevalence of adults who haven't seen a doctor in the past 12 months due to cost, at 19.2%. It is followed by Texas (17.9%) and Louisiana (17.6%).

The following map shows the prevalence of adults who haven't seen a doctor in the past 12 months due to cost by state over multiple years.

Health Care Spending

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Massachusetts.

$10,559

Total Per Capita Spending on Personal Health Care in Massachusetts

$5,302

Per Enrollee Private Health Insurance Spending on Personal Health Care

$8,922

Per Enrollee Medicaid Spending on Personal Health Care

$11,899

Per Enrollee Medicare Spending on Personal Health Care

Between 2013 and 2014, all personal health care spending per capita in Massachusetts (including private, Medicare, and Medicaid) grew 2.78%, from $10,273 to $10,559.

The following chart shows how this spending changed over time in comparison to Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance spending, per enrollee.

Health Care Coverage

Uninsured

43.1%

Employer Coverage

32.7%

Medicaid

7.85%

Medicare

12.6%

Non-Group

0.753%

Military or VA

Between 2017 and 2018, the percent of uninsured citizens in Worcester, MA declined by 9.29% from 3.3% to 3%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Worcester, MA changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.