The numbers for Worcester
| Measure | Worcester | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Units in 2-unit buildings | 7,433 | 282,603 |
| Units in 3- and 4-unit buildings | 21,346 | 323,934 |
| All units in 2-4 unit buildings | 28,779 (rank 2 of 351) | 606,537 |
| Share of all housing units | 33.5% (rank 10 among the 30 places with 20,000+ units) | 20.0% |
| Units built 1939 or earlier | 40.8% | 30.5% |
| Units built 1979 or earlier | 75.1% | 67.4% |
| Households that rent | 57.2% | 37.5% |
| Median value, owner-occupied homes (all types) | $374,400 | n/a |
| Median gross rent | $1,487 a month | n/a |
Counts are housing units in buildings with 2, 3 or 4 units (Census table B25024), not buildings and not parcels; a three-family counts as three units. They are survey estimates with a margin of error (for large cities about 1 to 8 percent of the 2-4 unit count). The median value is what owners say their home is worth across all home types, not a sale price and not the price of a two- or three-family.
What this means if you own one in Worcester
Three- and four-unit buildings hold 21,346 units against 7,433 in two-families, the opposite of Springfield. At $374,400 median home value and $1,487 median rent (Census), a few thousand dollars of repairs or lead work is a larger share of the deal than in Boston or Cambridge, so run the net proceeds calculator with real quotes.
75.1% of the city's units were built in 1979 or earlier, so check the build year of your building: the lead notice applies to any building built before 1978.
Steps that apply in Worcester
- Fire department certificate. The Worcester Fire Department inspects smoke and carbon monoxide alarms before a sale or transfer (MGL c.148 s.26F and s.26F1/2). Ask for the date as soon as you have a closing date. See the smoke and CO certificate.
- Lead notice. For a building built before 1978, give the buyer the Property Transfer Lead Paint Notification before the buyer signs the purchase and sale agreement. See lead paint when you sell.
- Tenants and deposits. Deposits and last month's rent move to the buyer, who must notify each tenant in writing within 45 days (MGL c.186 s.15B). See selling with tenants in place.
- City lead help. The City of Worcester runs a federally funded Worcester Lead Abatement Program; its page says both owner-occupied and investor-owned properties may qualify, subject to income and rental restrictions (Lead & Healthy Homes). Ask the city about current funding before you decide to delead or sell as-is.