Median household income is a gauge of overall economic health of the region and the financial resources of households. Examining income for different racial and ethnic groups is important as a measure of inequity.

In 2018-22, median income in Worcester County was substantially lower among Hispanic or Latino ($57,900) and Black or African American ($70,000) households, and higher among White ($91,200) and Asian ($119,300) households. While Latino households had the lowest median income, they saw the largest increase since 2008-12 (44%), compared to smaller increases among African American (11%), Asian (10%) and White (5%) households.

The state had similar disparities in 2018-22. Earnings for African American, Asian, and Latino households in Worcester County were similar to Massachusetts incomes, while earnings for White residents were lower than the state median ($102,700). Compared to national medians, most groups in Worcester County earned more except Latino households, who fared better at the national level ($64,900).

Among local areas with reliable data, the median income for Latino and African American households in the City of Worcester were lower than the County medians for each group.

These large and persistent disparities in income are the result of historic and current policies and practices that disadvantage people of color. Research has connected slavery and the inability of Black Americans even after emancipation to fully participate in economic life to the wealth and income gaps still present today. Structural racism perpetuated by policies and practices that systematically disadvantage African American and Latino communities include inequitable education, low wages, job and wage discrimination, lack of access to capital, and globalization. Even when a recovery from the current economic crisis occurs, it is not expected to make up for the pre-existing racial disparities experienced over time unless policies are enacted to address these gaps.

Figures are in constant 2022 dollars. 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.