Housing
New homes permitted, home values and rents, affordable housing, and the housing stock, from federal and state data.
Checked . Each source updates once or twice a year.
Summary
- New homes permitted 470 In 2025
- Median home value $412K 2024 · State $607K
- Median rent $1,614 A month, 2024 · State $1,848
- Homes counted as affordable 12.34% State goal 10% · September 2025
New homes permitted
Homes approved for construction each year by building permit, counted in housing units: a duplex is two. Some permitted homes are never built, and others take years to finish.
| Year | Homes | In buildings of 5+ |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 470 | 370 |
| 2024 | 945 | 819 |
| 2023 | 267 | 134 |
| 2022 | 812 | 701 |
| 2021 | 178 | 84 |
| 2020 estimated | 70 | 8 |
| 2019 | 70 | 10 |
| 2018 | 167 | 48 |
| 2017 | 94 | 0 |
| 2016 | 84 | 0 |
So far in 2026, through Sep 2026: 347 homes.
Cities and towns report permits to the Census Bureau monthly or once a year. For months without a report, the Bureau estimates the count; those years are marked "partly estimated", and years with no reports at all "estimated". Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey (opens in new tab).
Home values and rents
From the Census Bureau's American Community Survey, which samples households each year (2024). Each Worcester figure has a margin of error (±) because it comes from a sample.
| Measure | Worcester | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $411,700±$18,985 | $607,400 |
| Median rent, per month | $1,614±$79 | $1,848 |
| Renters paying 30% or more of income on rent | 58.3%±6.3 | 52.4% |
| Renters paying 50% or more | 31.9%±5.2 | 26.0% |
Home value is what owners estimate their home would sell for. Rent is gross rent, including utilities the renter pays. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 1-year, via Census Reporter (opens in new tab).
Affordable housing
Massachusetts counts homes that are kept affordable to lower-income households on its Subsidized Housing Inventory. Under Chapter 40B, the goal is for 10% of each community's year-round homes to be on the list.
Below 10%, a developer whose project includes affordable homes can get a single permit to build more densely than local zoning allows. If the city denies it, the state can overturn that decision on appeal.
As of September 30, 2025, 10,371 of Worcester's 84,071 year-round homes were on the list: 12.34%.
Year-round homes are from the 2020 Census. The state updates the list about every two years, with some changes in between. Source: Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, Subsidized Housing Inventory (opens in new tab).
Housing stock
Homes in Worcester by who lives in them, 2024.
| Homes | Number | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Lived in by the owner | 36,199 | 40% |
| Rented | 46,917 | 52% |
| Vacant | 6,607 | 7% |
| of which seasonal or vacation homes | 579 | 1% |
| All homes | 89,723 | 100% |
Estimates from the American Community Survey. Source: U.S. Census Bureau via Census Reporter (opens in new tab).
Residential property by type
Properties on the assessor's list, fiscal year 2026. These are parcels, not homes: each condominium is its own parcel, while an apartment building is one parcel.
| Type | Parcels |
|---|---|
| Single-family homes | 25,752 |
| Condominiums | 5,000 |
| Three-family homes | 4,953 |
| Two-family homes | 3,639 |
| Apartment buildings (4 or more units) | 1,483 |
| Other residential | 118 |
Source: Mass. Division of Local Services, parcel counts (LA-4) (opens in new tab).