Worcester & The Region

A Premier College Destination

Home to more than 30,000 college students each academic year, the greater Worcester area is an active, vibrant and energetic community. In addition to its diverse student population, Consortium member institutions attract more than 15,000 full and part-time employees to the region. Downtown Worcester is in the midst of a dynamic revitalization effort as over $1 billion has been invested in new development projects including CitySquare and the Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts. Whether it’s catching the latest concerts at the DCU Center or Palladium, sampling the restaurants on Shrewsbury Street or in the Canal District, or watching the Worcester Tornadoes (Can-Am League baseball), and Worcester Sharks (American Hockey League) in thrilling sports action, Worcester is the place to be for fun and exciting attractions. For those in search of a premier college town the choice is Worcester—and the time is now!

Worcester Rocks video

Did You Know?

  • 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
  • Worcester: Right Place, Right Time: Business Opportunities, Development Projects, Cultural Events, City Guide and more!
  • Worcester Climate Action Plan: Worcester's Climate Action Plan was developed by the Energy Officer and Energy Task Force. The plan was submitted to the City Council for further review, consideration and approval on January 30, 2007.
  • Worcester Love: The video guide to everything there is to love about Central Massachusetts!
  • 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