The story of this market
The typical home in ZIP 01608 sells for about $480,000, or $285 per square foot.
Prices are up +6.1% from a year ago, so sellers still have some momentum. Homes take about 21 days to sell, which is fast. HUD's fair market rent for a two-bedroom is $1,491 a month.
ZIP 01608 — Worcester
The 01608 housing market shows steady price appreciation driven by limited inventory and consistent demand for urban living. While the market remains competitive, buyers are increasingly sensitive to interest rates and property-specific maintenance needs. Overall, the area is experiencing stable growth supported by ongoing downtown development.
This ZIP is well-suited for urban-focused renters and investors looking for proximity to downtown amenities, though it requires careful property-level due diligence.
Median prices moved up 6.1% year over year.
Homes spend a median of 21 days on market with 3.5 months of supply — a fast-moving market.
15% of listings have cut prices · homes sell at 100.2% of asking — demand is running ahead of supply.
no recorded foreclosure-ledger notices (0.0 per 10,000 residents) · unemployment 7.2% · poverty 41.3% — a mixed stability profile.
Researched annual trajectory for this ZIP, from published historical series
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 9.3%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
Median annual property tax paid on this ZIP's residential parcels
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 7.4%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
versus the prior ACS vintage
in-migration and out-migration balanced
ZCTA 01608, Worcester County MA
ACS 2024 5-year estimates. Aggregate published statistics for this ZIP — never individual records, and never an attribute of any individual property or resident.
Violent offense rates in the broader Worcester area are approximately 629.9 per 100k, slightly above the national catalog average of 602.7.
Public schools in the Worcester district serve the area with varying performance metrics; specific school-level ratings are subject to district-wide accountability reports.
The area faces standard New England climate risks, including winter storm exposure and localized flood risks in low-lying urban zones.
Worcester serves as a regional economic hub with ongoing redevelopment in the downtown and canal districts, supported by healthcare and education anchors.
Property taxes are assessed by the City of Worcester based on a uniform tax rate applied to the fair market value of real estate, with exemptions available for owner-occupied primary residences.
The ZIP is centrally located in Worcester, providing short drive times to local employment centers and access to regional transit corridors including the MBTA Commuter Rail.
The area features proximity to urban parks, local dining districts, and cultural amenities within the downtown Worcester core.
The rental market is characterized by steady demand driven by the local university population and urban workforce, with moderate vacancy pressure.
The economy is anchored by healthcare, higher education, and biotechnology sectors, with significant employment provided by regional hospital systems and universities.
The city is served by the Worcester Regional Transit Authority and provides direct commuter rail access to Boston via Union Station.
Ongoing urban renewal projects focus on downtown revitalization and the conversion of historic industrial buildings into residential lofts.
The City of Worcester Assessor's Office conducts annual property valuations based on market sales data to determine tax assessments.
Parcels are subject to municipal property taxes and standard utility service districts; no major MUD/PID districts are prevalent.
Property insurance premiums are influenced by regional hazard profiles, including winter storm and fire risk, consistent with the broader Massachusetts market.
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Data retrieved from data.census.gov ZCTA-level tables.
Public schools whose reported address is in this area (NCES). Not attendance boundaries — schools that serve residents may sit outside it. Check the district's address locator for assignment.
- Great Wolf Lodge | New England4.219.9 mi
- Apex Entertainment Marlborough4.412.3 mi
- Launch Entertainment Park Framingham4.516.5 mi
- Central Rock Gym - Worcester4.82.5 mi
- Launch Family Entertainment Park Westboro4.38.1 mi
- Wachusett Mountain Ski Area4.517.5 mi
- Apex Entertainment Marlborough4.412.3 mi
- DCU Center4.30.3 mi
- Blackstone Valley 14 Cinema de Lux4.44.4 mi
- Polar Park4.80.3 mi
- New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill4.77.9 mi
- Apex Entertainment Marlborough4.412.3 mi
- Blackstone Valley 14 Cinema de Lux4.44.4 mi
- Davis Farmland4.712.7 mi
- EcoTarium4.51.8 mi
- New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill4.77.9 mi
- Old Sturbridge Village4.718.5 mi
- EcoTarium4.51.8 mi
- American Heritage Museum4.917.9 mi
- Worcester Art Museum4.70.8 mi
- New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill4.77.9 mi
- Green Hill Park4.61.9 mi
- Purgatory Chasm State Reservation4.810.2 mi
- Elm Park4.60.9 mi
- Dean Park4.66 mi
- Point Breeze4.215.8 mi
- Fore Kicks II Indoor & Outdoor Sports Complex4.612.4 mi
- Shining Rock Golf Club4.211 mi
- Cyprian Keyes Golf Club4.36.5 mi
- Juniper Hill Golf Course3.99.5 mi
- Highfields Golf & Country Club4.37.8 mi
- Solomon Pond Mall4.311.7 mi
- Auburn Mall3.94.4 mi
- Burlington43.3 mi
- The Shops at Blackstone Valley4.44.4 mi
- Shaw's4.21.9 mi
- Worcester Regional Airport4.63.8 mi
- Boston Skydive Center528.4 mi
Theme parks, venues, golf, airports, museums, water and shopping across the area from Google Maps, ranked by popularity within the radius shown.
Central public space hosting community events and seasonal activities.
Major arena hosting sports, concerts, and conventions.
Key-figure check: no independent anchor retained yet — first-researched cycles establish the anchor baseline this pass.