Financial Security
Median Household Income
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Source: U.S. Census Bureau

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What does this measure?

Median household income, in 2022 dollars. Half of incomes are below the median and half are above.

Why is this important?

Median household income is a gauge of the overall economic health of the region and the financial resources of households.

How is our county performing?

In 2018-22, the median household income in Worcester County was $88,500, a 7% increase from $83,000 in 2013-17 and a 5% increase from 2008-12 (after inflation). The state had a higher median household income at $96,500 and the nation was substantially lower, at $75,000. Worcester County's 5% increase in median household income since 2008-12 was lower than the 14% increase at the state level and 11% increase at the national level.

Within Worcester County, Bolton had the highest median income, at $191,200, followed by Harvard at $189,600 and Southborough at $186,400. Southbridge had the lowest median income, at $55,200, followed by Gardner at $57,000. Rutland had the largest percentage median income increase in Worcester County since 2008-12, rising nearly 37%, from $110,200 to $150,700.

Notes about the data

Figures are in constant 2022 dollars. The multi-year figures are from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey. The bureau combined five years of responses to the survey to provide estimates for smaller geographic areas and increase the precision of its estimates. However, because the information came from a survey, the samples responding to the survey were not always large enough to produce reliable results, especially in small geographic areas. CGR has noted on data tables the estimates with relatively large margins of error. Estimates with three asterisks have the largest margins, plus or minus 50% or more of the estimate. Two asterisks mean plus or minus 35%-50%, and one asterisk means plus or minus 20%-35%. For all estimates, the confidence level is 90%, meaning there is 90% probability the true value (if the whole population were surveyed) would be within the margin of error (or confidence interval). The survey provides data on characteristics of the population that used to be collected only during the decennial census. Data for this indicator are released annually in December.

Median Household Income
2008-122013-172018-22
Worcester County$84,087$82,755$88,524
Athol$61,712$60,194$63,809
Clinton$84,520$81,619$89,888
Fitchburg$60,473$61,382$65,963
Gardner$62,374$58,401$56,974
Northbridge$85,127$89,766$103,454
Southbridge$59,852$59,937$55,182
Spencer$75,663$78,066$76,225
Webster$62,232$62,212$70,644
Westborough$124,324$128,471$133,145
Worcester$58,225$54,764$63,011
Massachusetts$84,966$88,550$96,505
Additional Worcester County localities
Ashburnham$104,127$101,560$112,133*
Auburn$93,137$88,558$101,931
Barre$97,173$82,897$96,128
Berlin$121,651$116,309$123,077
Blackstone$94,379$95,824$95,132
Bolton$179,012$181,021$191,208
Boylston$120,680$115,899$133,292
Brookfield$79,296$76,673$71,122*
Charlton$121,167$112,135$113,896
Douglas$103,341$113,035$136,998
Dudley$89,880$76,747$87,306
East Brookfield$79,287*$95,793$77,122*
Grafton$115,063$120,115$118,252
Hardwick$75,756$69,024$64,573*
Harvard$183,734$160,410$189,647
Holden$119,640$121,574$138,241
Hopedale$126,067$121,495$120,750
Hubbardston$99,034$111,497$114,922
Lancaster$98,558$124,563$111,506*
Leicester$91,776$91,619$93,885
Lunenburg$100,000$116,736$106,138
Mendon$121,772$150,215$135,909*
Milford$88,144$90,564$92,843
Millbury$93,485$89,202$109,119
Millville$93,829$108,050$95,144
New Braintree$109,143$100,806$99,318
Northborough$131,935$133,570$160,801
North Brookfield$74,375*$87,315$80,380
Oakham$106,459$102,604$93,906
Oxford$86,472$86,635$96,481
Paxton$137,068$114,133$130,787
Petersham$90,820*$78,237$104,205
Phillipston$96,396$90,611$90,625
Princeton$138,948$152,830$163,750
Royalston$74,388*$88,612$98,542
Rutland$110,198$120,541$150,685
Shrewsbury$117,277$120,157$127,088
Southborough$172,848$170,046$186,432
Sterling$131,095$122,377$131,058
Sturbridge$106,275$101,179*$113,427
Sutton$143,127$120,963$142,537
Templeton$87,878$80,610$101,768
Upton$147,383$142,545$145,129*
Uxbridge$106,044$113,012$124,682
Warren$54,074*$81,772*$64,085**
West Boylston$95,918$87,539$96,406
West Brookfield$84,655$80,137$89,112*
Westminster$102,348$119,477$95,674
Winchendon$78,949$77,055$84,375
Leominster$75,975$68,782$75,620

Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Notes: Figures in 2022 dollars. Multiyear results are from rolling American Community Survey. * Margin of error between 20% & 35% of estimate; ** margin of error between 35% & 50%; *** margin of error greater than 50%.







INDICATORS TREND
Arts, Entertainment and Recreation Establishments 1
Increasing
Average Charitable Contribution 0
Maintaining
Households With Internet Access 1
Increasing
Protected Land 10 Not Applicable*
Voter Participation Rate -1
Decreasing
Voter Registration Rate 0
Maintaining
Arrest Rate by Race/Ethnicity -1
Decreasing
Change in Total Population 1
Increasing
Change in Population by Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
Foreign-Born Population 1
Increasing
Language Diversity 1
Increasing
Population by Age -1
Decreasing
Households by Type 0
Maintaining
Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity -1
Decreasing
Median Household Income 0
Maintaining
Household Income by Race/Ethnicity 0
Maintaining
80/20 Income Ratio 0
Maintaining
Income in Relation to Poverty Level 0
Maintaining
People Living in Poverty 0
Maintaining
People Living in Poverty, by Education Level 1
Increasing
People Living in Poverty, by Age 1
Increasing
People Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
Homeownership Rates, by Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
Overall Housing Cost Burden -1
Decreasing
Cost of Rent, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Median Home Value by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Homelessness 10 Not Applicable*
Households Receiving SNAP by Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
Household Receiving Temporary Assistance 0
Maintaining
Households Without Vehicles 0
Maintaining
Education Levels of Adults by Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
Change in Employment by Sector 10 Not Applicable*
Change in Average Salary by Sector 10 Not Applicable*
Female to Male Earnings Ratio 0
Maintaining
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity -1
Decreasing
Employer Size 1
Increasing
Business Ownership, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Self-Employment Revenue 0
Maintaining
People Entering/Leaving County for Work 1
Increasing
Early Prenatal Care by Mother's Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
Preterm Births 10 Not Applicable*
Infant Mortality by Mother's Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Children with Elevated Blood Lead Levels -1
Decreasing
Prevalence of Children with Asthma 1
Increasing
People with Disabilities 1
Increasing
People Without Health Insurance -1
Decreasing
Cancer Incidence 0
Maintaining
Diabetes Incidence -1
Decreasing
Substance Abuse Treatment Admissions -1
Decreasing
Opioid Overdose Mortality Rate 1
Increasing
Children Living in Poverty 0
Maintaining
Children Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity -1
Decreasing
Economically Disadvantaged Students 1
Increasing
Disengaged Youth -1
Decreasing
Prekindergarten Participation -1
Decreasing
Student Performance on Grade 3 English, by Student Subgroup -1
Decreasing
Student Performance on Grade 8 Math, by Student Subgroup -1
Decreasing
Student Performance on Grade 10 English, by Student Subgroup -1
Decreasing
Student Performance on Grade 10 Math, by Student Subgroup -1
Decreasing
High School Cohort Graduation Rate, by Student Group 1
Increasing
Arrest Rate by Race/Ethnicity -1
Decreasing
Change in Population by Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity -1
Decreasing
Household Income by Race/Ethnicity 0
Maintaining
People Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
Homeownership Rates, by Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
Cost of Rent, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Median Home Value by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Households Receiving SNAP by Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
Education Levels of Adults by Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity -1
Decreasing
Business Ownership, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Early Prenatal Care by Mother's Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
Infant Mortality by Mother's Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Children Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity -1
Decreasing
Student Performance on Grade 3 English, by Student Subgroup -1
Decreasing
Student Performance on Grade 8 Math, by Student Subgroup -1
Decreasing
Student Performance on Grade 10 English, by Student Subgroup -1
Decreasing
Student Performance on Grade 10 Math, by Student Subgroup -1
Decreasing
High School Cohort Graduation Rate, by Student Group 1
Increasing





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