Metro area index
Home appreciation in the Worcester, MA metro area
FHFA HPI® data shows the Worcester, MA metro area's all-transactions index changed +2.5% over the year to Q2 2026, versus +3.2% for Massachusetts and +3.0% for the U.S. That ranks 252nd of 410 metro areas and divisions FHFA tracks.
- 1-year change
- +2.5%
- 5-year change
- +43.8%
- Since Q1 1995
- +320%
- Metro rank (1 year)
- 252nd
U.S. +3.0%
U.S. +41.3%
U.S. +292%
of 410
Worcester, MA vs Massachusetts and the U.S.
FHFA HPI® all-transactions index, rebased so Q1 1995 = 100, through Q2 2026
- Worcester, MA: 420.3
- Massachusetts: 471.6
- United States: 391.6
Appreciation by time window
| Window | Metro | MA | U.S. | Gap vs MA | Gap vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | +2.5% | +3.2% | +3.0% | −0.6 pts | −0.5 pts |
| 3 years | +15.1% | +16.1% | +12.9% | −1.0 pts | +2.2 pts |
| 5 years | +43.8% | +41.9% | +41.3% | +1.9 pts | +2.5 pts |
| 10 years | +99.7% | +91.9% | +93.3% | +7.8 pts | +6.4 pts |
| Since Q1 1995 | +320% | +372% | +292% | −51.3 pts | +28.7 pts |
3-digit ZIP regions in the Worcester, MA area
Regions with at least 10% of their 2010 population inside the metro, largest overlap first. A 3-digit ZIP region can extend beyond the metro boundary.
| 3-digit ZIP region | State | 1 year | 5 years | Since Q1 1995 | Population in metro |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 016 · Worcester, MA area | MA | +0.6% | +45.9% | +363% | 100% |
| 015 · Southbridge Town, MA area | MA | +2.2% | +42.3% | +306% | 99% |
| 014 · Leominster, MA area | MA | +3.5% | +46.5% | +332% | 73% |
| 062 · Danielson, CT area | CT | +6.6% | +56.3% | +231% | 56% |
| 013 · Greenfield Town, MA area | MA | +5.2% | +49.4% | +415% | 19% |
| 017 · Marlborough, MA area | MA | +2.0% | +40.7% | +325% | 14% |
Boom, bust, and recovery in Worcester, MA area
Worcester, MA area's index peaked in Q1 2006, fell 23.2% to its low in Q2 2012, and regained its peak in Q3 2019, about 13.5 years after the top. Today it sits +72.1% versus that 2000s peak. How every state and ZIP region fared
| Area | 2000s peak | Low point | Peak to low | Back to peak | Today vs peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metro | Q1 2006 | Q2 2012 | -23.2% | Q3 2019 (13.5 yrs) | +72.1% |
| MA | Q1 2006 | Q2 2012 | -17.6% | Q2 2017 (11.2 yrs) | +84.2% |
| U.S. | Q1 2007 | Q2 2012 | -19.0% | Q4 2016 (9.8 yrs) | +89.3% |
Appreciation after inflation
Adjusting for consumer price inflation, Worcester, MA area's index has changed +89.8% in real terms since Q1 1995. Home prices vs inflation
| Window | Inflation (CPI-U) | Metro after inflation | MA after inflation | U.S. after inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | +3.9% | -1.3% | -0.7% | -0.8% |
| 3 years | +9.8% | +4.8% | +5.7% | +2.8% |
| 5 years | +24.0% | +15.9% | +14.4% | +13.9% |
| 10 years | +39.1% | +43.6% | +38.0% | +39.0% |
| Since Q1 1995 | +121% | +89.8% | +113% | +76.8% |
If you bought in the Worcester, MA area in…
An example $300,000 purchase grown at the metro index rate to Q2 2026.
| Bought in | Index change | $300,000 then, at the metro rate |
|---|---|---|
| Q2 1995 | +314% | $1,242,882 |
| Q2 2000 | +204% | $911,957 |
| Q2 2005 | +77.5% | $532,446 |
| Q2 2010 | +113% | $639,698 |
| Q2 2015 | +107% | $622,085 |
| Q2 2020 | +64.1% | $492,261 |
| Q2 2021 | +43.8% | $431,434 |
| Q2 2023 | +15.1% | $345,249 |
| Q2 2025 | +2.5% | $307,605 |
Frequently asked questions
- How much have home prices risen in the Worcester, MA area?
- FHFA HPI® data for the Worcester, MA metro area shows changes of +2.5% over one year, +43.8% over five years, and +99.7% over ten years to Q2 2026, and +320% since Q1 1995.
- Is the Worcester, MA area beating the national average?
- Over the past year the metro's index moved −0.5 pts versus the U.S.; over five years the gap is +2.5 pts.
- What area does this metro index cover?
- FHFA computes metro indexes using the counties in each OMB-defined metropolitan statistical area. The index covers the whole area, so individual neighborhoods and homes can differ from it.