Who moves to Worcester, and where they go
Every year the IRS counts how many people move between counties, based on the addresses on their tax returns. Here is what that shows for Worcester County, MA, home of Worcester, between the 2022 and 2023 tax years.
- Moved in
- 24,762from other US counties
- Moved out
- 26,327to other US counties
- Net
- −1,565more departures than arrivals
- From abroad
- 292tax filers and dependents only
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Where newcomers come from
| County | People |
|---|---|
| Middlesex County, MA (Cambridge) | 7,627 |
| Norfolk County, MA (Quincy) | 1,681 |
| Suffolk County, MA (Boston) | 1,438 |
| Essex County, MA (Lynn) | 986 |
| Providence County, RI (Providence) | 763 |
| Hampden County, MA (Springfield) | 696 |
| Bristol County, MA (New Bedford) | 596 |
| Plymouth County, MA (Brockton) | 401 |
| Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region, CT | 352 |
| Hillsborough County, NH (Manchester) | 337 |
| Hampshire County, MA | 333 |
| Franklin County, MA | 323 |
Where people go when they leave
| County | People |
|---|---|
| Middlesex County, MA (Cambridge) | 4,356 |
| Norfolk County, MA (Quincy) | 1,288 |
| Suffolk County, MA (Boston) | 1,125 |
| Hampden County, MA (Springfield) | 905 |
| Providence County, RI (Providence) | 839 |
| Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region, CT | 789 |
| Essex County, MA (Lynn) | 558 |
| Hillsborough County, NH (Manchester) | 547 |
| Barnstable County, MA | 501 |
| Capitol Planning Region, CT (Hartford) | 479 |
| Bristol County, MA (New Bedford) | 473 |
| Franklin County, MA | 437 |
Most moves are short hops within the same metro area. 14,489 of the newcomers came from elsewhere in Massachusetts and 10,273 from other states. Here are the long-distance moves only, more than 100 miles:
Long-distance newcomers come from
| County | People |
|---|---|
| Barnstable County, MA | 286 |
| Bronx County, NY | 164 |
| Los Angeles County, CA (Los Angeles) | 130 |
| Queens County, NY (New York) | 106 |
| Maricopa County, AZ (Phoenix) | 101 |
| Kings County, NY | 93 |
| Palm Beach County, FL (West Palm Beach) | 90 |
| New York County, NY | 81 |
Long-distance movers go to
| County | People |
|---|---|
| Barnstable County, MA | 501 |
| New York County, NY | 182 |
| Palm Beach County, FL (West Palm Beach) | 176 |
| York County, ME | 173 |
| Orange County, FL (Orlando) | 162 |
| Wake County, NC (Raleigh) | 162 |
| Horry County, SC | 161 |
| Los Angeles County, CA (Los Angeles) | 142 |
Frequently asked questions
Where do people moving to Worcester come from?
Most people moving into Worcester County, MA come from nearby counties, led by Middlesex County, MA (7,627 people). The biggest source more than 100 miles away is Barnstable County, MA.
Where do people leaving Worcester move to?
The top destination is Middlesex County, MA (4,356 people). Farther away, the most popular is Barnstable County, MA.
Are more people moving to Worcester or leaving?
Between the 2022 and 2023 tax years, 24,762 people moved into Worcester County, MA from elsewhere in the US and 26,327 moved out, a net loss of 1,565 (IRS data, not counting moves from abroad).
Thinking about the move yourself? Compare Worcester with any city it trades people with, like Worcester vs Los Angeles, Worcester vs New York, Worcester vs Phoenix, Worcester vs West Palm Beach.
Source: IRS Statistics of Income, county-to-county migration data for filing years 2022 to 2023, the latest available. Counts are people (the number of personal exemptions, which the IRS uses to approximate individuals): tax filers plus dependents whose address moved to a different county between the two filing years. People who do not file returns are not counted, and the IRS hides very small flows to protect privacy. Figures are for the whole county, not just the city of Worcester.