Worcester County ( ) is located in the U.S. state of Massachusetts. At the 2020 census, the population was 862,111, making it the second-most populous county in Massachusetts. Being 1,510.6 square miles of land area, it is the largest county in Massachusetts by geographic area. The largest city and traditional shire town is Worcester. Worcester County is part of the Worcester, MA–CT metropolitan statistical area and the Boston-Worcester-Providence combined statistical area.

History

Worcester County was formed from the eastern portion of colonial Hampshire County, the western portion of the original Middlesex County and the extreme western portion of the original Suffolk County. When the government of Worcester County was established on April 2, 1731, Worcester was chosen as its shire town (later known as a county seat). From that date until the dissolution of the county government, it was the only county seat. Because of the size of the county, there were fifteen attempts over 140 years to split the county into two counties, but without success.

Initially, Lancaster was proposed as the seat of the northern county; later, Petersham was proposed once and Fitchburg was proposed repeatedly, most recently in 1903. Perhaps as a concession, in August 1884 the Worcester County Registry of Deeds was split in two, with the Worcester Northern registry placed in Fitchburg.

Geography According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (4.3%) is water.

It is the largest county in Massachusetts by area. The county is larger geographically than the entire state of Rhode Island even including Rhode Island's water ocean limit boundaries. The county constitutes Central Massachusetts, separating the Greater Springfield area from the Greater Boston area. It stretches from the northern to the southern border of the state. The geographic center of Massachusetts is in Rutland.

Worcester County is one of two Massachusetts counties that borders three different neighboring states; (New Hampshire, Connecticut and Rhode Island); the other being Berkshire County. They are also the only two counties to touch both the northern and southern state lines.

Adjacent counties

Cheshire County, New Hampshire - north Hillsborough County, New Hampshire - north/northeast Middlesex County - east/northeast Norfolk County - east/southeast Providence County, Rhode Island - south/southeast Windham County, Connecticut - south Tolland County, Connecticut - south/southwest Hampden County - west/southwest Hampshire County - west Franklin County - west/northwest

National protected areas Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park (part) Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge (part)

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 862,111. Of the residents, 20.7% were under the age of 18 and 16.4% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 40.2 years. For every 100 females there were 97.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.0 males. 78.8% of residents lived in urban areas and 21.2% lived in rural areas.

The racial makeup of the county was 73.6% White, 5.6% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 5.4% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 6.4% from some other race, and 8.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 13.0% of the population.

There were 331,797 households in the county, of which 29.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 26.8% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 27.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 351,764 housing units, of which 5.7% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 63.8% were owner-occupied and 36.2% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 4.4%.

Racial and ethnic composition +Worcester County, Massachusetts – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 1980Pop 1990Pop 2000Pop 2010 Pop 2020% 1980% 1990% 2000% 2010% 2020White alone (NH)618,636650,265649,227644,299611,20795.71%91.62%86.45%80.68%70.90%Black or African American alone (NH)8,41913,47818,25729,08444,2221.30%1.90%2.43%3.64%5.13%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)8971,2671,4991,2981,1460.14%0.18%0.20%0.16%0.13%Asian alone (NH)2,84011,13419,56131,59746,1100.44%1.57%2.60%3.96%5.35%Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)x included in the Asian category in the 1980 Censusx included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census188178176xx0.03%0.02%0.02%Other race alone (NH)1,3436211,6863,6349,4240.21%0.09%0.22%0.46%1.09%Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)x not an option in the 1980 Censusx not an option in the 1990 Census9,68113,04037,924xx1.29%1.63%4.40%Hispanic or Latino (any race)14,21732,94050,86475,422111,9022.20%4.64%6.77%9.44%12.98%Total646,352709,705750,963798,552862,111 100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%

2010 census At the 2010 census, there were 798,552 people, 303,080 households, and 202,602 families in the county. The population density was . There were 326,788 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 85.6% white, 4.2% black or African American, 4.0% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 3.6% from other races, and 2.3% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 9.4% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 22.2% were Irish, 15.1% were French as well as 6.7% French Canadians, 14.4% were Italian, 11.7% were English, 7.0% were Polish, 6.9% were German, and 3.2% were American.

Of the 303,080 households, 33.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.0% were married couples living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 33.2% were non-families, and 26.2% of households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.09. The median age was 39.2 years.

The median household income was $64,152 and the median family income was $79,121. Males had a median income of $56,880 versus $42,223 for females. The per capita income for the county was $30,557. About 6.9% of families and 9.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.1% of those under age 18 and 9.0% of those age 65 or over. 2000 census At the 2000 census, there were 750,963 people, 283,927 households, and 192,502 families in the county. The population density was . There were 298,159 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 89.61% White, 2.73% Black or African American, 0.25% Native American, 2.62% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 2.93% from other races, and 1.82% from two or more races. 6.77%. were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 15.9% were of Irish, 12.3% Italian, 11.7% French, 8.0% French Canadian, 8.0% English, 5.6% Polish and 5.0% American ancestry according to Census 2000. 85.1% spoke English, 6.1% Spanish and 1.9% French as their first language.

Of the 283,927 households, 33.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.5% were married couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.2% were non-families. In addition, 26.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56, and the average family size was 3.11.

The age distribution was 25.60% under the age of 18, 8.40% from 18 to 24, 31.10% from 25 to 44, 21.80% from 45 to 64, and 13.00% 65 or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.10 males.

The median household income was $47,874 and the median family income was $58,394. Males had a median income of $42,261 versus $30,516 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,983. About 6.80% of families and 9.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.30% of those under age 18 and 9.50% of those age 65 or over.

Demographic breakdown by town

Income

The ranking of unincorporated communities that are included on the list are reflective of the census designated locations and villages were included as cities or towns. Data is from the 2007-2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates.