Forbes Ranks Worcester #10 Best City to Raise a Family
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Besides being an inexpensive city, Worcester’s proximity to Boston and Hartford and neighboring cities like Marlborough, Shrewsbury and Boxborough helped the city gain its top spot.
Forbes ranked these areas based on several criteria including median income, cost of living, housing affordability, commute time, percentage home-owners, crime, and education.
Here’s Worcester’s numbers: Median Income: 14 Cost of Living Index: 71 Housing Affordability: 23 Commuting: 17 Pct. Owning Homes: 20 (70.3%) Crime: 17 Education: 62
“It’s a continued national acknowledgement of the strengths Worcester has as a market. It’s a place to live and a place to invest,” said Tim McGourthy, Worcester’s Economic Development Director. “It’s been identified nationally for its income, meaning that the dollars you earn can go a lot farther due to a lower cost of living.” McGourthy also cited other instances where Worcester had been named for its job creation.
Affordable Living
One of Worcester’s key figures, housing affordability, is measured two ways, according to the website - by the percentage of home-owners according to the Census Bureau, and by the percentage of homes in the area that are affordable to a family making the local median income, using figured from Wells Fargo and the National Association of Home Builders.
City councilor Tony Economou knows the city’s housing atmosphere well, speaking both from his role in city government and as a former Worcester realtor.
“Anytime families want to be in the city, that helps us as a whole, but it really shows what Worcester has to offer. It has affordable housing, good neighborhoods, access to highways, and to culture. I believe it has a good school system. Compared to cities its size, crime is relatively low,” he said. “It’s been a pleasure raising my family in the city.
“That’s what families look for. They look for affordability. You can buy a lot more in Worcester for the same amount compared other cities in the area.”
Local residents agree. Maritza Rodriguez waits at the bus stop with her young daughter. She’s raising a family in Worcester and has found it less difficult than she had imagined finding an affordable place for her and her children
“For now, it’s been easy. I like the schools,” she said. “I have two teenagers in middle school, and they’re doing great.”
Councilor Economou spoke to the city’s strengths in pulling residents from other, comparable yet more expensive cities.
“When you speak to people who moved here from other parts of the state, they love it,” he said. There aren’t many cities our size with parks within walking distance in the neighborhoods. They love the culture we have they love the museums. Those are all key items for families.”
One thing that he believes has prompted this significantly low cost of living and affordable housing is its large number of older houses.
“It’s an urban center and has a bigger diversity in population in and in the age of its housing. There are more 1800s, 1900s homes in the city and some of those need work, some need rehab, but that’s what creates price points in the marketplace. It’s a pretty cool city to live in.”
The Highs and Lows
While housing is at a good place in Worcester, there is always room for improvement. One mother voiced her concern for commute time.
“The taxes are good, but there’s a long time to commute,” said Leila Castillo as she and her son walked down Main Street. While transportation in the city isn’t always the most convenient, she has found it convenient in other ways.
Why Housing Might Get More Expensive
CEO of Worcester Apartment Rental Agency, Ed Murphy also had some predictions about the future of the housing market in Worcester. He says that due to the city’s growth, housing costs are not as affordable as they once were, but the benefits still rank it higher than cities in the area.
“Worcester is not as affordable as it used to be, but compared to cities around it – even though it’s expensive compared to what it used to be – it’s still much more affordable than places east of 495,” Murphy said. “There are much more things to do in the city. People can raise a family in the suburbs and also save some money compared to living in Boston. The commuter rail has made the area desirable also.”
According to Murphy, the entry level for a single family home is somewhere between $75,000-$150,000, which is almost half the price of houses of similar size in the area. This, he says, is making Worcester a place to be.
“That’s giving someone something they can own for cheaper. For young professions in Boston or anywhere east of 495 it’s tough to find something. It’s more desirable for everyone,” he said.
“I think definitely that the housing market in the area is going to go up which won’t make it as affordable, but it will keep young professions working in the city around.” Murphy said that more $100,000 jobs in the city will be driving the price up, but it’s still much more affordable due to the expense of living in Boston or Providence. People will continue to choose Worcester.
Regardless of a potential increase in housing costs in the future, the price will only be driven by more high-paying jobs, and both of these realities are good signs for Worcester’s economy and families.
“The word is definitely out there in terms of the attractiveness of the city and change that’s going on here. This sends a great message,” said Tim McGourthy. “In Worcester there are tons of opportunities for people and families of all kinds. There are plenty of things going on, and it’s a great location. We’re building on that to move us forward.”
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