Worcester Living
Worcester—often referred to as The Big Woo—is indeed big, both in area and in stature. The second largest city in Massachusetts and one of the most vibrant cities in the Northeast, Worcester is home to a burgeoning enterprise hub, an award-winning brewery, a robust health-care and biotech scene, and an expanding airport that accommodates all this activity.
A Most Livable City
Not surprising, given that Worcester ranks 9th on Forbes magazine's list of “America’s Most Livable Cities.” That confirmed what our students have been saying for years: Worcester is a great place to go to college. The New York Times assigned a reporter to describe what the Worcester buzz is all about:
- Boulevards are steadily filling up with civic amenities
- Busy public transit hub
- Comfortable and affordable housing
- New restaurants and watering holes
- Computer stores and coffee shops
- Performance arts theater
- Biotech research facilities
- Incubators and office space for start-up companies
- Renovated parks
- Ice rink larger than the one in Rockefeller Center
- The top of urban demographic and economic performances in New England
The Heart of the Big WooWorcester is located approximately 40 miles (64 km) west of Boston and 38 miles (61 km) east of Springfield. The city is known as the “Heart of the Commonwealth” because of its location in the center of Massachusetts. In fact, a heart is the official symbol of the city. But what makes The Big Woo distinct? Here are just a few of the characteristics that combine to give this city its out-sized personality: