Key Takeaways
- Values are rising slowly: Zillow's typical Worcester value is $435,944, up 1.6%, behind Worcester County (+1.9%) and Massachusetts (+2.3%) (Zillow ZHVI, August 2026).
- Single-family houses still sell near list: the year-to-date median is $465,000, up 3.3%, but days on market rose to 46 from 36 (MAR, August 2026).
- The 2-4 unit market loosened most: supply rose to 3.9 months from 2.3, and 31.2% of listings took a price cut, up from 18.0% (Redfin, May 2026).
- Worcester is a three-decker city: about 5,000 three-family buildings, with 24.9% of all housing units in three- or four-unit structures.
- Local rules add days: the fire department asks for smoke and CO inspections 2-3 weeks before closing, and new owners of rentals have 30 days to register.
The Worcester housing market 2026 story has two halves. Single-family prices are still inching up, while the three-decker market has softened. Zillow's typical Worcester value rose 1.6% in the year to August 2026, slower than both the county and the state.
This guide reads each data source on its own, with its date, so you can run your own numbers. Worcester is the second-largest city in Massachusetts, with 213,862 people (U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2025).
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Let's chatWhat is the Worcester housing market doing in 2026?
The Worcester housing market is steady but loosening at the edges in 2026: prices are still inching up, while houses take longer to sell and more sellers cut prices.
Each source sits in its own row. They measure different things, so never add or average them.
| Source | Metric | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zillow ZHVI, August 2026 | Typical value, Worcester city (single-family and condo) | $435,944 | +1.6% year over year |
| Zillow ZHVI, August 2026 | Typical value, Worcester County | $498,010 | +1.9% |
| Zillow ZHVI, August 2026 | Typical value, Massachusetts | $661,896 | +2.3% |
| MAR, August 2026 | Worcester city single-family median sale price | $471,000 | +8.3% (73 sales) |
| MAR, August 2026 | Worcester city single-family median, year to date | $465,000 | +3.3% |
| MAR, August 2026 | Worcester city single-family cumulative days on market | 46 | Up from 36 |
| MAR, August 2026 | Worcester County single-family median sale price | $525,000 | +2.4% |
| Redfin, May 2026 | Worcester city 2-4 unit median sale price | $700,500 | +0.6% |
| Redfin, May 2026 | Worcester city 2-4 unit months of supply | 3.9 | Up from 2.3 |
| Redfin, May 2026 | Worcester city 2-4 unit listings with a price cut | 31.2% | Up from 18.0% |
| Realtor.com, December 2025 | 2026 forecast for the Worcester metro (#3 of 100) | Sales +12.6%, price +2.4% | Forecast, not a result |
MAR (closed MLS sales). Worcester city closed 73 single-family sales in August 2026 at a median of $471,000, up 8.3% (MAR, August 2026). That jump rests on a small sample. The year-to-date median is the steadier read: $465,000, up 3.3%.
Supply tightened while the pace slowed. Single-family inventory fell 16.8% to 144 listings, or 2.1 months of supply. Cumulative days on market rose to 46 from 36, and sellers received 100.2% of original list price.
Across Worcester County, the single-family median rose 2.4% to $525,000 on 595 sales (MAR, August 2026). County houses took 41 days to sell, up from 34.
Realtor.com (listings, not sales). In Worcester County, 680 of 1,509 active listings carried a price cut in August, up from 496 a year earlier (Realtor.com via FRED, August 2026).
Buyers who finance also pay more to borrow. The 30-year fixed rate averaged 6.95% for the week of September 17, 2026, up from 6.26% a year earlier (Freddie Mac PMMS, September 2026).
Worcester MA home prices by ZIP code
Worcester MA home prices on Zillow's index run from $379,981 in 01610 to $550,473 in 01609, leaving aside the downtown condo ZIP.
Zillow's typical Worcester value was $435,944 in August 2026, up 1.6% (Zillow ZHVI, August 2026). Worcester County rose 1.9% and Massachusetts rose 2.3% over the same year. On Zillow's numbers, the city is rising more slowly than the state.
ZHVI is Zillow's smoothed, seasonally adjusted value for middle-tier single-family houses and condos. It excludes 2-4 unit buildings, so it does not price a Worcester three-decker. The Redfin section below covers that segment.
| ZIP | Includes (for orientation only) | Zillow ZHVI, August 2026 | Year over year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01602 | Tatnuck, Newton Square | $454,541 | +1.7% |
| 01603 | Webster Square, Columbus Park | $399,742 | +1.5% |
| 01604 | Grafton Hill, Union Hill, Bell Hill | $425,117 | +1.4% |
| 01605 | Brittan Square, Lake Avenue | $444,992 | +2.0% |
| 01606 | Greendale, Burncoat | $442,086 | +0.9% |
| 01607 | Quinsigamond Village | $392,284 | +2.1% |
| 01608 | Downtown (mostly condos) | $187,670 | +2.1% |
| 01609 | West Side, Elm Park, WPI | $550,473 | +2.8% |
| 01610 | Main South, Piedmont, Vernon Hill | $379,981 | +4.6% |
01609 is the highest-value ZIP. 01610 is the lowest outside downtown, but it rose fastest, up 4.6%. Downtown 01608 reads low because condos dominate it; it has only 17 single-family parcels (MassGIS assessor data, FY2026).
Rents are flat. Zillow's observed rent for Worcester was $2,130 in August, up 0.4% (Zillow ZORI, August 2026).
How many three-deckers does Worcester have?
Worcester has about 5,000 three-family buildings: its FY2026 assessor data lists 4,954 three-family parcels (MassGIS, FY2026). Most are the stacked three-decker form, though the assessor code says three-family.
By units, 24.9% of Worcester's housing sits in three- or four-unit buildings, against 12.0% countywide (ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates).
Where they cluster
In 01610 (Main South, Piedmont, Vernon Hill, College Hill), 55% of residential parcels are three-families. 01604 (Grafton Hill, Union Hill, Bell Hill, Green Island) holds the most, with 1,222. The north and west ZIPs, 01602 and 01606, are only 4% three-family (MassGIS, FY2026).
Age and upkeep
The median Worcester three-family was built around 1900, based on assessor estimates. The city itself says "significant deferred maintenance exists in many of them" (City of Worcester, Housing Now).
The 2-4 unit market: where Worcester loosened
Worcester's 2-4 unit segment softened most over the past year, even though its median price held near $700,000.
Redfin's median sale price for 2-4 unit buildings in Worcester city was $700,500 in May 2026, up 0.6% (Redfin Data Center, May 2026). Months of supply rose to 3.9 from 2.3. Inventory grew to 77 from 50. The share of listings with a price cut rose to 31.2% from 18.0%.
In the same Redfin file, the single-family median was $475,000 with 2.4 months of supply. A three-decker owner now faces more listings on the market and buyers with more room to negotiate.
A dated building with tenants and open code items is where the timeline stretches most.
Worcester's 2026 forecast and the Boston commuter effect
Realtor.com's forecast ranked the Worcester metro #3 of the 100 largest U.S. markets for 2026, based on projected growth in sales and prices.
It projected sales of existing houses up 12.6% and the median sale price up 2.4% (Realtor.com, Top Housing Markets for 2026, December 10, 2025). That was a forecast made before the year began, not a measure of current demand. Realtor.com called Worcester a "refuge market" drawing buyers from high-cost metros.
Zillow's own forecast is more modest: 1.8% growth for the Worcester metro through August 2027 (Zillow forecast, August 2026).
The Boston commuter effect
Worcester's typical value is about 44% below Boston's $774,723 (Zillow ZHVI, August 2026). The Framingham/Worcester commuter rail line serves Union Station, and station work now allows double-track operation toward Boston (City of Worcester ACFR, FY2025). Our Boston housing market 2026 guide covers the other side of that price gap.
Most city residents still work locally. Only 15.0% of employed Worcester residents commute 45 minutes or more, against 22.3% countywide (ACS 2020-2024). The Boston effect shows up more in buyer demand than in city commutes.
What does it cost to own a Worcester house in 2026?
Worcester's FY2026 residential tax rate is $13.28 per $1,000 of assessed value, and the commercial rate is $29.06 (City of Worcester, FY2026).
Illustrative only: the median FY2026 assessed single-family, $388,200, owes about $5,155 a year at that rate. The median three-family, assessed at $606,150, owes about $8,050 (MassGIS, FY2026). Both figures exclude the 1.5% Community Preservation Act surcharge and any exemption.
Bills arrive quarterly, on July 1, October 1, January 1, and April 1. A mixed-use building with a storefront can carry part of its value at the commercial rate, more than double the residential one.
Water costs $3.85 and sewer $10.22 per hundred cubic feet (City of Worcester Quick Facts, September 2026).
Worcester city runs on municipal sewer, so Title 5 septic inspections rarely come up inside city limits. They matter more in surrounding towns. Our guide to selling with a failed Title 5 septic system covers that case.
Worcester rules that set a sale timeline
Three local and state rules add days to a Worcester sale: the smoke and CO inspection, the rental registry, and the lead paint notice.
Smoke and CO certificate
Massachusetts requires the seller to equip a house with approved smoke detectors at sale (M.G.L. c. 148, § 26F). The Worcester Fire Department inspects smoke and carbon monoxide alarms before every sale. It asks that inspections be scheduled 2-3 weeks before closing, with one application per deeded house or unit (Worcester Fire Department, September 2026).
Rental registry and inspections
Worcester's rental registry charges $15 per unit to register and $5 per unit to renew (City of Worcester, March 2024). New owners have 30 days from purchase to register (City Manager Eric Batista, April 2024). Owner-occupied two- and three-families may be exempt, so check with Inspectional Services.
Buildings with three or more units also sit in a five-year city inspection cycle (Worcester Inspectional Services, September 2026). A buyer inherits any open correction list.
Lead paint notice
Of Worcester's three-family parcels, 99.4% carry a pre-1978 year built (MassGIS, FY2026). Sellers must give buyers the state lead paint notification before signing a purchase and sale agreement (M.G.L. c. 111, § 197A).
Listing or a cash sale: which fits your house?
A clean single-family on the west or north side often sells near list with an agent, while a dated three-decker with tenants is where a direct cash sale can make more sense.
When listing fits
If your house is updated and you have time, listing may net you more. MAR shows Worcester single-family sellers receiving 100.2% of original list price in August 2026. If a cash sale isn't your best move, Propcash will say so and point you to a local agent. We may receive compensation from agents we refer.
When a cash sale fits
A cash sale can fit when the building needs work, tenants are in place, or the numbers above point to a long listing. Propcash is a direct cash homebuyer that buys houses as a principal. We make one transparent, data-backed cash offer on the house as it stands, and we show how we got to the number.
Propcash charges no fees or commissions, and you pick the closing date. We buy with tenants in place, with no eviction needed before you sell. The offer stands while you compare it.
A Massachusetts closing attorney handles the closing, by long-standing practice. With the fire department's lead time, a Worcester cash sale can often close in as few as 14 days.
You can sell your house fast in Worcester without repairs or showings, or get a cash offer on your Worcester house in about two minutes. Heirs should also read our guide to selling an inherited house in Massachusetts. For statewide context, see our Massachusetts overview.
Why wait? Sell your house “as is” for cash today
Tell us about your house. We'll make you a cash offer based on local market data.
Let's chatFrequently Asked Questions
What are Worcester MA home prices in 2026?
Worcester MA home prices in 2026 depend on the source and the house type. Zillow's typical Worcester value was $435,944 in August 2026, up 1.6%. MAR's August single-family median sale price was $471,000, and its year-to-date median was $465,000. Redfin's median for 2-4 unit buildings was $700,500 in May 2026.
Are Worcester prices rising faster than the rest of Massachusetts?
No, on Zillow's index Worcester is rising more slowly than the state. Worcester's typical value rose 1.6% in the year to August 2026, against 1.9% for Worcester County and 2.3% for Massachusetts. MAR's August single-family median jumped 8.3%, but that rests on 73 sales, and the year-to-date gain was 3.3%.
How much is a three-decker worth in Worcester?
Redfin's median sale price for 2-4 unit buildings in Worcester was $700,500 in May 2026. Zillow's home value index does not cover these buildings, so it cannot price one. The median FY2026 assessed value of a Worcester three-family was $606,150, but that is a tax figure, not a sale price. Condition, rents, and open code items can move any one building far from either number.
How long does it take to sell a house in Worcester right now?
Worcester single-family houses spent a median of 46 cumulative days on market in August 2026, up from 36 a year earlier, according to MAR. Closing adds time after an offer, including the fire department's smoke and CO inspection. A direct cash sale skips lender approval and can often close in as few as 14 days.
What is the Worcester property tax rate for FY2026?
Worcester's FY2026 residential tax rate is $13.28 per $1,000 of assessed value, and the commercial rate is $29.06. Bills are issued quarterly on July 1, October 1, January 1, and April 1. Illustrative only: the median assessed single-family, at $388,200, owes about $5,155 a year before the CPA surcharge.
Do you need a smoke detector certificate to sell a house in Worcester?
Yes, a Worcester sale needs a smoke and carbon monoxide certificate. Massachusetts requires approved smoke detectors at sale under M.G.L. c. 148, § 26F, and the Worcester Fire Department inspects smoke and carbon monoxide alarms before every sale. Each deeded house or condo unit needs its own application, and the department asks that inspections be scheduled 2-3 weeks before closing.