Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Worcester, Massachusetts
A $340,000 home here costs
$2,862per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.32% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $122,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,868. The real number is $993 higher every month, 53% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Worcester County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
Worcester against Worcester County and Massachusetts
| Measure | Worcester | Worcester County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $339,500 | $390,700 |
| Median property tax | $4,555 | $5,207 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.342% | 1.333% |
| Median gross rent | $1,415 | $1,347 |
| Population | 205,501 | 861,664 |
The weather behind that power bill
Worcester sits in Worcester County, which averages a high of 79.8°F in its hottest month and a low of 17.1°F in its coldest, with 48.26" of precipitation a year and 27% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 503 cooling and 6,622 heating degree days, which is what sets the $174 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Worcester County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Worcester County
Full Worcester County cost breakdown · Every county in Massachusetts
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Worcester averages. What one specific house costs to own, or what it would sell for today, depends on the street and the condition of the place. We will connect you with one licensed local agent who works Worcester every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Worcester I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Worcester?
A $340,000 home in Worcester, Massachusetts costs approximately $2,862 per month with 20% down at 7.32%. That is $1,868 principal and interest, $380 property tax, $88 homeowners insurance, $242 utilities and $283 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Worcester?
Worcester has an effective property tax rate of 1.342%, based on a median home value of $339,500 and median real estate taxes of $4,555. That is in line with the Worcester County average of 1.333%.
What is the average home price in Worcester?
The median owner-occupied home value in Worcester, Massachusetts is $339,500, against $390,700 across Worcester County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Worcester?
Median gross rent in Worcester is $1,415 a month, against $2,862 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.
What salary do you need to buy a home in Worcester?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Worcester, Massachusetts at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $122,500 a year. That covers the full $2,862 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Worcester, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Massachusetts.
- Electricity price, EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
- Mortgage rate, Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
- Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.