Greater Worcester

A Premier College Destination

Home to more than 30,000 college students each academic year, Greater Worcester is an active, vibrant and energetic community. In addition to its diverse student population, Consortium member institutions attract more than 16,000 full and part-time employees to the region. Downtown Worcester is in the midst of a dynamic revitalization with new development projects such as CitySquare. You can catch the latest concerts at the Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts, DCU Center or the Palladium or sample the restaurants on Shrewsbury Street or in the Canal District.

In addition to thrilling NCAA Division I, II and III competition, the Worcester Tornadoes (Can-Am League baseball), Worcester Sharks (American Hockey League), Worcester Hydra FC (United Soccer League's PDL), and Worcester County Wildcats (semi-pro football) call Worcester home.  And THIS year (2012), Worcester will see regional, national and/or international competitions in tennis, synchronized skating, hockey, rowing, running, cycling, Special Olympics and Little League.  Keep track on our special Sports Year page.

For those in search of a premier college town the choice is Worcester—and the time is now!

Worcester Rocks video

• Worcester Calendar of Events
• WOO Card (discounts to explore Worcester's cultural scene)
• Entertainment
• Attractions
• Restaurants
• Shopping
• Hotels
• Higher education's contributions to the area (2007-08 Annual Report)

Worcester Superlatives

• In 2012, Forbes.com listed Worcester as the 2nd happiest U.S. city in which to work based on a survey by CareerBliss.com.

• MSN Real Estate's Buying Advice column listed Worcester among the 5 best housing markets in the country in 2012.
• Worcester was selected as one of 19 "Skilled Anchor" areas by a May 2010 Brookings Institution report entitled "The State of Metropolitan America: On the Front Lines of Demographic Transformation." The report characterizes Skilled Anchors as "...slow growing, less diverse metro areas that boast higher-than-average levels of educational attainment...Many boast significant medical and educational institutions."
• Worcester ranked as the most affordable housing market in Massachusetts in Coldwell Banker's 2009 Home Price Comparison Index, which compares similar homes in 310 U.S. and other North American markets.

• In 2008:

Forbes.com placed Worcester as the best city in Massachusetts for business and careers

Forbes.com also placed Worcester as 9th in the nation for culture and leisure activities

CNNMoney.com placed Worcester in the top 40 cities in the United States to live and launch a business

CNNMoney.com also placed Worcester among the top 5 cities in the nation as a Biotech Hot Spot

Milken Institute placed Worcester in the top quarter of the nation's largest cities in terms of high tech activity

Related Sites

• Buy Worcester Now: A private/public partnership in which buyers who purchase a home in Worcester will receive discounted services, and in some cases, up to 100 percent financing at below market rates with no down payment.
• Central Massachusetts Convention & Visitors Bureau
• Destination Worcester: A focused endeavor to showcase and sell Worcester as a destination to meeting & convention planners, and event & sports organizers.
• Taste Worcester: Recommendations and reviews of Worcester restaurants
• Welcome to Worcester: Right Place, Right Time: Business Opportunities, Development Projects, Cultural Events, City Guide and more!
• Worcester Regional Airport (ORH): Worcester is now proud to offer commercial airline service direct from ORH to two destinations in Florida and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. For more info, call 1-877-432-DIRECT or go to www.visitdirectair.com.
• Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce: The Chamber supports existing businesses and promotes economic development in the Worcester region.
• Worcester Regional Research Bureau: Independent, non-partisan research and analysis of public policy issues in the Greater Worcester region