Economic Mobility
Homeownership Rates, by Race/Ethnicity
Using the charts: Items in the legend below the chart can be clicked on and off to aid in analysis. The chart can also be printed or exported as an image or document using the menu at the top right of the chart. Visit Using the Site for more information.





Source: U.S. Census Bureau

What does this measure?

The number of owner-occupied units (not rented) as a percent of all occupied units (not vacant) for various racial and ethnic groups.

Why is this important?

Historically, members of some racial and ethnic groups have suffered discrimination in buying homes and accessing home mortgages. A home is a vital financial asset for a family and an investment in both the local neighborhood and surrounding community.

How is our county performing?

In 2018-22, 71% of White and 62% Asian residents in Worcester County owned their homes compared to 33% of both African American and Latino residents. The City of Worcester, the only locality with statistically reliable data, had similar disparities with 49% of White residents and 41% of Asian residents owning their homes compared to 26% of African American and 22% of Latino residents.

Worcester County had greater racial and ethnic disparities in homeownership rates than the nation. Nationwide, homeownership was substantially higher among African American and Latino residents, at 43% and 49%, respectively. The County's rates were similar to Massachusetts as a whole, except that a smaller share of Asian residents owned homes at the state level (56%).

Since 2008-12, the County's homeownership rate among Latino residents increased the most, by eight percentage points, while the rate for African Americans decreased by three points.

Why do these disparities exist?

A variety of research has shown how disparities in homeownership are connected to racial inequities within systems beyond housing, including financial services, labor market and intergenerational wealth. Historic practices including redlining, exclusionary mortgage practices and restrictive covenants barring property from being owned by members of specific groups directly locked people out of homeownership. These had intergenerational effects when people of color were unable to benefit from wealth transfers of home equity as White homebuyers can. Since Black and Latino households generally have lower wages and wealth accumulation, they have less resources for down payments and higher debt to income ratios. Many in the Black and Latino community may lack information about the home buying process and choose to stay renters.

Notes about the data

The multi-year figures are from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey. The bureau combined five years of responses to the survey to provide estimates for smaller geographic areas and increase the precision of its estimates. However, because the information came from a survey, the samples responding to the survey were not always large enough to produce reliable results, especially in small geographic areas. CGR has noted on data tables the estimates with relatively large margins of error. Estimates with three asterisks have the largest margins, plus or minus 50% or more of the estimate. Two asterisks mean plus or minus 35%-50%, and one asterisk means plus or minus 20%-35%. For all estimates, the confidence level is 90%, meaning there is 90% probability the true value (if the whole population were surveyed) would be within the margin of error (or confidence interval). The survey provides data on characteristics of the population that used to be collected only during the decennial census. Data for this indicator are released annually in December.

Homeownership Rate, by Race/Ethnicity, 2018-22
AsianBlack or African AmericanHispanic or LatinoWhite
Worcester County62%33%33%71%
Athol49%***100%***43%***73%
Clinton37%***59%***32%**57%
Fitchburg40%***24%**32%62%
Gardner40%***85%***59%***59%
Northbridge66%***24%***51%***71%
Southbridge59%***3%***23%*51%
Spencer68%***0%***100%***64%
Webster50%***13%***51%***63%
Westborough59%24%***41%***66%
Worcester41%26%22%49%
Massachusetts56%36%31%69%
Additional Worcester County localities
Ashburnham100%***100%***100%***93%
Auburn69%***63%***74%***85%
BarreN/A***N/A***N/A***88%
Berlin100%***0%***N/A***82%
Blackstone78%***100%***100%***77%
Bolton100%***N/A***100%***94%
Boylston100%***N/A***100%***79%
BrookfieldN/A***N/A***56%***88%
Charlton100%***100%***72%***81%
Douglas0%***N/A***100%***85%
Dudley86%***86%***32%***71%
East Brookfield100%***43%***100%***79%
Grafton87%*46%***58%**72%
Hardwick0%***N/A***57%***69%
Harvard91%***100%***100%***92%
Holden84%***77%***63%***87%
HopedaleN/A***63%***100%***79%
Hubbardston0%***100%***75%***94%
Lancaster42%***0%***20%***85%
LeicesterN/A***57%***74%***87%
Lunenburg100%***74%***52%***81%
Mendon100%***100%***100%***92%
Milford80%***79%***38%**76%
Millbury89%***100%***84%***73%
Millville100%***0%***0%***86%
New BraintreeN/A***0%***N/A***86%
Northborough77%*30%***50%***90%
North BrookfieldN/A***0%***100%***70%
OakhamN/A***100%***N/A***93%
Oxford100%***81%***87%***81%
Paxton100%***100%***100%***88%
Petersham100%***N/A***N/A***90%
PhillipstonN/A***100%***100%***91%
PrincetonN/A***N/A***0%***98%
Royalston100%***N/A***N/A***88%
Rutland100%***100%***62%***84%
Shrewsbury69%56%**57%**77%
Southborough98%*53%***68%***90%
SterlingN/A***100%***100%***89%
Sturbridge100%***88%***100%***82%
Sutton100%***100%***100%***86%
Templeton100%***N/A***100%***84%
Upton100%***58%***62%***91%
Uxbridge46%***0%***89%***81%
Warren100%***100%***100%***64%
West Boylston100%***33%***68%***80%
West BrookfieldN/A***N/A***100%***79%
WestminsterN/A***N/A***44%***86%
Winchendon87%***0%***84%***74%
Leominster95%*45%*46%*68%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Notes: Multiyear results are from rolling American Community Survey. * Margin of error between 20% & 35% of estimate; ** margin of error between 35% & 50%; *** margin of error greater than 50%. The Census Bureau asks people to identify their race (white, African-American, etc.) separate from their ethnicity (Hispanic or non-Hispanic). So the totals for these categories cannot be added together, as people show up in both a racial and ethnic group.




Number of Homeowners by Race/Ethnicity, 2018-22
AsianBlack or African AmericanHispanic or LatinoWhite
Worcester County8,7384,61611,183193,296
Athol26***15***142***3,257
Clinton41***63***251**3,442
Fitchburg87***210**1,3157,941
Gardner116***74***285***4,695
Northbridge40***16***260***4,261
Southbridge40***10***490*2,758
Spencer25***0***207***3,114
Webster60***45***418***3,764
Westborough1,01746***212***3,620
Worcester1,9422,2123,68426,225
Massachusetts93,51062,04285,3601,455,398
Additional Worcester County localities
Ashburnham17***20***80***2,042
Auburn86***40***182***5,222
Barre0***0***0***1,644
Berlin47***0***0***1,107
Blackstone57***51***35***2,758
Bolton154***0***31***1,555
Boylston66***0***17***1,384
Brookfield0***0***18***1,247
Charlton12***5***79***3,815
Douglas0***0***35***2,599
Dudley85***128***45***2,765
East Brookfield6***3***37***659
Grafton475*47***167**4,641
Hardwick0***0***17***723
Harvard81***53***24***1,661
Holden58***66***210***5,665
Hopedale0***17***75***1,643
Hubbardston0***18***18***1,385
Lancaster11***0***27***2,339
Leicester0***60***91***3,217
Lunenburg54***31***50***3,513
Mendon6***25***25***1,772
Milford273***189***357**7,026
Millbury149***60***72***3,409
Millville18***0***0***1,016
New Braintree0***0***0***339
Northborough462*55***77***4,253
North Brookfield0***0***11***1,280
Oakham0***4***0***550
Oxford12***39***124***3,811
Paxton8***9***58***1,343
Petersham2***0***0***391
Phillipston0***2***3***631
Princeton0***0***0***1,236
Royalston2***0***0***464
Rutland60***45***78***2,441
Shrewsbury1,863231**365**8,180
Southborough456*10***62***2,606
Sterling0***16***21***3,010
Sturbridge43***68***118***3,068
Sutton53***5***33***2,674
Templeton72***0***49***2,528
Upton94***67***28***2,252
Uxbridge12***0***114***4,119
Warren30***23***23***1,258
West Boylston20***19***39***2,139
West Brookfield0***0***33***1,191
Westminster0***0***15***2,772
Winchendon87***0***26***2,440
Leominster413*519*950*10,436

Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Notes: Multiyear results are from rolling American Community Survey. * Margin of error between 20% & 35% of estimate; ** margin of error between 35% & 50%; *** margin of error greater than 50%. The Census Bureau asks people to identify their race (white, African-American, etc.) separate from their ethnicity (Hispanic or non-Hispanic). So the totals for these categories cannot be added together, as people show up in both a racial and ethnic group.







INDICATORS TREND
Arts, Entertainment and Recreation Establishments 1
Increasing
Average Charitable Contribution 0
Maintaining
Households With Internet Access 1
Increasing
Protected Land 10 Not Applicable*
Voter Participation Rate -1
Decreasing
Voter Registration Rate 0
Maintaining
Arrest Rate by Race/Ethnicity -1
Decreasing
Change in Total Population 1
Increasing
Change in Population by Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
Foreign-Born Population 1
Increasing
Language Diversity 1
Increasing
Population by Age -1
Decreasing
Households by Type 0
Maintaining
Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity -1
Decreasing
Median Household Income 0
Maintaining
Household Income by Race/Ethnicity 0
Maintaining
80/20 Income Ratio 0
Maintaining
Income in Relation to Poverty Level 0
Maintaining
People Living in Poverty 0
Maintaining
People Living in Poverty, by Education Level 1
Increasing
People Living in Poverty, by Age 1
Increasing
People Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
Homeownership Rates, by Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
Overall Housing Cost Burden -1
Decreasing
Cost of Rent, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Median Home Value by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Homelessness 10 Not Applicable*
Households Receiving SNAP by Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
Household Receiving Temporary Assistance 0
Maintaining
Households Without Vehicles 0
Maintaining
Education Levels of Adults by Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
Change in Employment by Sector 10 Not Applicable*
Change in Average Salary by Sector 10 Not Applicable*
Female to Male Earnings Ratio 0
Maintaining
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity -1
Decreasing
Employer Size 1
Increasing
Business Ownership, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Self-Employment Revenue 0
Maintaining
People Entering/Leaving County for Work 1
Increasing
Early Prenatal Care by Mother's Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
Preterm Births 10 Not Applicable*
Infant Mortality by Mother's Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Children with Elevated Blood Lead Levels -1
Decreasing
Prevalence of Children with Asthma 1
Increasing
People with Disabilities 1
Increasing
People Without Health Insurance -1
Decreasing
Cancer Incidence 0
Maintaining
Diabetes Incidence -1
Decreasing
Substance Abuse Treatment Admissions 1
Increasing
Opioid Overdose Mortality Rate 1
Increasing
Children Living in Poverty 0
Maintaining
Children Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity -1
Decreasing
Economically Disadvantaged Students 1
Increasing
Disengaged Youth -1
Decreasing
Prekindergarten Participation -1
Decreasing
Student Performance on Grade 3 English, by Student Subgroup -1
Decreasing
Student Performance on Grade 8 Math, by Student Subgroup -1
Decreasing
Student Performance on Grade 10 English, by Student Subgroup -1
Decreasing
Student Performance on Grade 10 Math, by Student Subgroup -1
Decreasing
High School Cohort Graduation Rate, by Student Group 1
Increasing
Arrest Rate by Race/Ethnicity -1
Decreasing
Change in Population by Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity -1
Decreasing
Household Income by Race/Ethnicity 0
Maintaining
People Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
Homeownership Rates, by Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
Cost of Rent, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Median Home Value by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Households Receiving SNAP by Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
Education Levels of Adults by Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity -1
Decreasing
Business Ownership, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Early Prenatal Care by Mother's Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
Infant Mortality by Mother's Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Children Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity -1
Decreasing
Student Performance on Grade 3 English, by Student Subgroup -1
Decreasing
Student Performance on Grade 8 Math, by Student Subgroup -1
Decreasing
Student Performance on Grade 10 English, by Student Subgroup -1
Decreasing
Student Performance on Grade 10 Math, by Student Subgroup -1
Decreasing
High School Cohort Graduation Rate, by Student Group 1
Increasing





Loading...