11-22-2007, 07:29 PM
25 posts, read
79,761 times
Reputation: 21
Is Worcester really that bad?
I've mentioned before that DH is interviewing for jobs there. Everyone keeps telling us that Worcester isn't even worth checking out...totally ghetto, bad schools.
11-22-2007, 08:57 PM
188 posts, read
525,999 times
Reputation: 50
It has some bad parts. I like it better than Springfield.
11-23-2007, 05:02 AM
Location: Cary, NC
2,092 posts, read
4,178,809 times
Reputation: 1408
Some things you just have to see for yourself. I do not think buying in Worcester is a good investment. Buy east of Worcester for resale. Work in Worcester, live elsewhere. Sure, there are some nice neighborhoods in Worcester, like anywhere. But over all it's a depressing run down and dirty place. It's a buyer's market... there are other options
11-23-2007, 02:18 PM
8,927 posts, read
9,297,372 times
Reputation: 7739
A significant number of drug rehabs, halfway houses, etc. I agree that buying there doesn't make sense, although of course there are better areas than some other parts of town. The boom mentality is over in these parts, and the marginal places suffer first and the most. I see very little evidence of serious boom ever having occurred in Worcester, and the party is over.
11-23-2007, 03:26 PM
967 posts, read
2,722,088 times
Reputation: 221
I agree with the earlier posts and am not a fan of Worcester overall but can say the neighborhoods off Salisbury St are lovely and elementary school in that area is supposed to be good compared with the rest of the city.
11-24-2007, 09:38 AM
95 posts, read
311,540 times
Reputation: 41
It's tough. I like Springfield better.
11-24-2007, 09:41 AM
967 posts, read
2,722,088 times
Reputation: 221
Will you be visiting here anytime? If so, I'd recommend taking a drive down Main St in Worcester, then heading up to Salisbury St and check out a few streets off of there. You'll get a very good sense from this trip of the worst and best that Worcester has to offer. (Ok, there are probably some worse areas than Main St but that will give you an idea of the seediness people are cautioning you about.)
11-25-2007, 07:09 PM
Location: Metrowest
6 posts, read
32,827 times
Reputation: 10
Agree with what everyone is saying and would also suggest the Salisbury Street area and Flagg Street school area. Continuing up Salisbury Street gets you into Holden, which has some nice neighborhoods. On the other side of Worcester, I would check out Shrewsburyor Grafton.
11-25-2007, 07:12 PM
Location: Fort Worth, Texas
10,548 posts, read
18,071,667 times
Reputation: 5749
I prefered Shrewsbury when I lived in the area.
11-25-2007, 07:20 PM
I would not buy in Worcester, you need resale value and you won't get it there.
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Median household income ($)
Median household income (% change since 2000)
Median family income ($)
Median family income (% change since 2000)
Median non-family income ($)
Median non-family income (% change since 2000)
Median per capita income ($)
Median per capita income (% change since 2000)
Median resident age
Median resident age - Males
Median resident age - Females
Unemployment (%)
Unemployment (% change since 2000)
Commute - mean travel time to work (minutes)
Population density (people per square mile)
Household density (households per square mile)
Population - Males (%)
Population - Females (%)
Population in households (%)
Average household size
Family households (%)
Nonfamily households (%)
Family households with own children (%)
Households with people 60 years and over (%)
Households with people 65 years and over (%)
Households with people 75 years and over (%)
Households with one or more nonrelatives (%)
Households with no nonrelatives (%)
Population in families (%)
Average family size
Occupied housing units (%)
Vacant housing units (%)
Owner occupied housing units (%)
Renter occupied housing units (%)
Marital status - Never married (%)
Marital status - Now married (%)
Marital status - Separated (%)
Marital status - Widowed (%)
Marital status - Divorced (%)
Likely homosexual households (%)
Likely homosexual households (% change since 2000)
Likely homosexual households - Lesbian couples (%)
Likely homosexual households - Lesbian couples (% change since 2000)
Likely homosexual households - Gay men (%)
Likely homosexual households - Gay men (% change since 2000)
Races - White alone (%)
Races - White alone (% change since 2000)
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Races - American Indian alone (%)
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Races - Hispanic (%)
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Races - Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone (%)
Races - Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone (% change since 2000)
Races - Two or more races(%)
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Races - Other race alone (%)
Races - Other race alone (% change since 2000)
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Median house or condo value ($ change since 2000)
Mean house or condo value by units in structure - 1, detached ($)
Mean house or condo value by units in structure - 1, attached ($)
Mean house or condo value by units in structure - 2 ($)
Mean house or condo value by units in structure by units in structure - 3 or 4 ($)
Mean house or condo value by units in structure - 5 or more ($)
Mean house or condo value by units in structure - Boat, RV, van, etc. ($)
Mean house or condo value by units in structure - Mobile home ($)
Median contract rent ($)
Median gross rent ($)
Median monthly housing costs ($)
Median household income for houses/condos with a mortgage ($)
Median household income for apartments without a mortgage ($)
Houses occupied (%)
Houses owner occupied (%)
Houses renter occupied (%)
Mortgage status - with mortgage (%)
Mortgage status - with second mortgage (%)
Mortgage status - with home equity loan (%)
Mortgage status - with both second mortgage and home equity loan (%)
Mortgage status - without a mortgage (%)
Median year house/condo built
Median year apartment built
Median number of rooms in houses and condos
Median number of rooms in apartments
House/condo owner moved in on average (years ago)
Renter moved in on average (years ago)
Housing units lacking complete plumbing facilities (%)
Housing units lacking complete kitchen facilities (%)
Vacancy status - For rent (%)
Vacancy status - For sale only (%)
Vacancy status - Rented or sold, not occupied (%)
Vacancy status - For seasonal, recreational, or occasional use (%)
Vacancy status - For migrant workers (%)
Vacancy status - Other vacant (%)
Housing units in structures - 1, detached (%)
Housing units in structures - 1, attached (%)
Housing units in structures - 2 (%)
Housing units in structures - 3 or 4 (%)
Housing units in structures - 5 to 9 (%)
Housing units in structures - 10 to 19 (%)
Housing units in structures - 20 to 49 (%)
Housing units in structures - 50 or more (%)
Housing units in structures - Mobile home (%)
Housing units in structures - Boat, RV, van, etc. (%)
Year house built - Built 2005 or later (%)
Year house built - Built 2000 to 2004 (%)
Year house built - Built 1990 to 1999 (%)
Year house built - Built 1980 to 1989 (%)
Year house built - Built 1970 to 1979 (%)
Year house built - Built 1960 to 1969 (%)
Year house built - Built 1950 to 1959 (%)
Year house built - Built 1940 to 1949 (%)
Year house built - Built 1939 or earlier (%)
Year householder moved into unit - Moved in 1999 to March 2000 (%)
Year householder moved into unit - Moved in 1995 to 1998 (%)
Year householder moved into unit - Moved in 1990 to 1994 (%)
Year householder moved into unit - Moved in 1980 to 1989 (%)
Year householder moved into unit - Moved in 1970 to 1979 (%)
Year householder moved into unit - Moved in 1969 or earlier (%)
Residents speaking English at home (%)
Residents speaking English at home - Born in the United States (%)
Residents speaking English at home - Native, born elsewhere (%)
Residents speaking English at home - Foreign born (%)
Residents speaking Spanish at home (%)
Residents speaking Spanish at home - Born in the United States (%)
Residents speaking Spanish at home - Native, born elsewhere (%)
Residents speaking Spanish at home - Foreign born (%)
Residents speaking other language at home (%)
Residents speaking other language at home - Born in the United States (%)
Residents speaking other language at home - Native, born elsewhere (%)
Residents speaking other language at home - Foreign born (%)
Geographical mobility - Same house 1 year ago (%)
Geographical mobility - Moved within same county (%)
Geographical mobility - Moved from different county within same state (%)
Geographical mobility - Moved from different state (%)
Geographical mobility - Moved from abroad (%)
Residents with income below the poverty level (%)
Residents with income below 50% of the poverty level (%)
Children below poverty level (%)
Poor families by family type - Married-couple family (%)
Poor families by family type - Male, no wife present (%)
Poor families by family type - Female, no husband present (%)
Poverty status for native-born residents (%)
Poverty status for foreign-born residents (%)
Poverty among high school graduates not in families (%)
Poverty among people who did not graduate high school not in families (%)
Place of birth - Born in state of residence (%)
Place of birth - Born in other state (%)
Place of birth - Native, outside of US (%)
Place of birth - Foreign born (%)
People in Group quarters - Institutionalized population (%)
People in Group quarters - Correctional institutions (%)
People in Group quarters - Federal prisons and detention centers (%)
People in Group quarters - Halfway houses (%)
People in Group quarters - Local jails and other confinement facilities (including police lockups) (%)
People in Group quarters - Military disciplinary barracks (%)
People in Group quarters - State prisons (%)
People in Group quarters - Other types of correctional institutions (%)
People in Group quarters - Nursing homes (%)
People in Group quarters - Hospitals/wards, hospices, and schools for the handicapped (%)
People in Group quarters - Hospitals/wards and hospices for chronically ill (%)
People in Group quarters - Hospices or homes for chronically ill (%)
People in Group quarters - Military hospitals or wards for chronically ill (%)
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People in Group quarters - Hospitals or wards for drug/alcohol abuse (%)
People in Group quarters - Mental (Psychiatric) hospitals or wards (%)
People in Group quarters - Schools, hospitals, or wards for the mentally retarded (%)
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People in Group quarters - Institutions for the deaf (%)
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People in Group quarters - Orthopedic wards and institutions for the physically handicapped (%)
People in Group quarters - Wards in general hospitals for patients who have no usual home elsewhere (%)
People in Group quarters - Wards in military hospitals for patients who have no usual home elsewhere (%)
People in Group quarters - Juvenile institutions (%)
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People in Group quarters - Homes for abused, dependent, and neglected children (%)
People in Group quarters - Residential treatment centers for emotionally disturbed children (%)
People in Group quarters - Training schools for juvenile delinquents (%)
People in Group quarters - Short-term care, detention or diagnostic centers for delinquent children (%)
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People in Group quarters - Noninstitutionalized population (%)
People in Group quarters - College dormitories (includes college quarters off campus) (%)
People in Group quarters - Military quarters (%)
People in Group quarters - On base (%)
People in Group quarters - Barracks, unaccompanied personnel housing (UPH), (Enlisted/Officer) (%)
People in Group quarters - Transient quarters for temporary residents (%)
People in Group quarters - Military ships (%)
People in Group quarters - Group homes (%)
People in Group quarters - Homes or halfway houses for drug/alcohol abuse (%)
People in Group quarters - Homes for the mentally ill (%)
People in Group quarters - Homes for the mentally retarded (%)
People in Group quarters - Homes for the physically handicapped (%)
People in Group quarters - Other group homes (%)
People in Group quarters - Religious group quarters (%)
People in Group quarters - Dormitories (%)
People in Group quarters - Agriculture workers' dormitories on farms (%)
People in Group quarters - Job Corps and vocational training facilities (%)
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People in Group quarters - Crews of maritime vessels (%)
People in Group quarters - Other nonhousehold living situations (%)
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Ancestries Reported - Arab (%)
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Ancestries Reported - French Canadian (%)
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Common Industries - Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining (%)
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Common Occupations - Protective service occupations (%)
Common Occupations - Fire fighting and prevention, and other protective service workers(%)
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Common Occupations - Food preparation and serving related occupations (%)
Common Occupations - Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations (%)
Common Occupations - Personal care and service occupations (%)
Common Occupations - Sales and office occupations (%)
Common Occupations - Sales and related occupations (%)
Common Occupations - Office and administrative support occupations (%)
Common Occupations - Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations (%)
Common Occupations - Construction, extraction, maintenance, and repair occupations (%)
Common Occupations - Construction and extraction occupations (%)
Common Occupations - Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations (%)
Common Occupations - Production, transportation, and material moving occupations (%)
Common Occupations - Production occupations (%)
Common Occupations - Transportation and material moving occupations (%)
Common Occupations - Supervisors, transportation and material moving workers(%)
Common Occupations - Motor vehicle operators (%)
Common Occupations - Material moving workers (%)
Class of Workers - Employee of private company (%)
Class of Workers - Self-employed in own incorporated business (%)
Class of Workers - Private not-for-profit wage and salary workers (%)
Class of Workers - Local government workers (%)
Class of Workers - State government workers (%)
Class of Workers - Federal government workers (%)
Class of Workers - Self-employed workers in own not incorporated business and Unpaid family workers (%)
Means of transportation to work - Drove car alone (%)
Means of transportation to work - Carpooled (%)
Means of transportation to work - Public transportation (%)
Means of transportation to work - Bus or trolley bus (%)
Means of transportation to work - Streetcar or trolley car (%)
Means of transportation to work - Subway or elevated (%)
Means of transportation to work - Railroad (%)
Means of transportation to work - Ferryboat (%)
Means of transportation to work - Taxicab (%)
Means of transportation to work - Motorcycle (%)
Means of transportation to work - Bicycle (%)
Means of transportation to work - Walked (%)
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Working at home (%)
Educational Attainment - No schooling completed (%)
Educational Attainment - Less than high school (%)
Educational Attainment - High school or equivalent (%)
Educational Attainment - Less than 1 year of college (%)
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Educational Attainment - Associate degree (%)
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School Enrollment - Nursery, preschool (%)
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House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Electricity (%)
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House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Coal or coke (%)
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House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Solar energy (%)
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House heating fuel used in houses and condos - No fuel used (%)
House heating fuel used in apartments - Utility gas (%)
House heating fuel used in apartments - Bottled, tank, or LP gas (%)
House heating fuel used in apartments - Electricity (%)
House heating fuel used in apartments - Fuel oil, kerosene, etc. (%)
House heating fuel used in apartments - Coal or coke (%)
House heating fuel used in apartments - Wood (%)
House heating fuel used in apartments - Solar energy (%)
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House heating fuel used in apartments - No fuel used (%)
Armed forces status - In Armed Forces (%)
Armed forces status - Civilian (%)
Armed forces status - Civilian - Veteran (%)
Armed forces status - Civilian - Nonveteran (%)
Median household income ($) - White
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Unemployment (%) - White
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Unemployment (%) - Multirace
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Median house or condo value ($) - White
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Population - Males (%) - White
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Residents with income below the poverty level (%) - White
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Median resident age - White
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Average household size - Other
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Average family size - Black or African American
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Average family size - Hispanic or Latino
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