The Town FilesLeicester, Massachusetts
Town in Worcester County · population 11,087 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $413,100
- Household income
- $105,173
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 73 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 42.4
Leicester is a town of 11,087 people in Worcester County, Massachusetts. The median home is worth $413,100, below the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). It ranks better for cycling than 86% of Massachusetts towns.
How Leicester ranks
Percentile among Massachusetts towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Massachusetts towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Leicester is worth $413,100, below the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). Homes cost about 3.9 times the median household income of $105,173, which is more affordable than 78% of Massachusetts towns. Median rent is $1,487 a month. 88.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Leicester | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $413,100 | $510,150 |
| Median rent | $1,487 | $1,561 |
| Median household income | $105,173 | $108,622 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.9× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 88.5% | 80.7% |
| Median year built | 1965 | 1968 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.0% | — |
Who lives in Leicester
| People | Leicester | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.4 | 44.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.9% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 31.0% | 45.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.8% | 6.3% |
| Veterans | 8.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.7% | — |
| Work from home | 13.1% | 17.7% |
| Average commute | 27.3 min | 30.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.8% | 93.9% |
Weather in Leicester
July highs average 79.8°F and January lows 17.1°F. About 48.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 72.9 inches of snow (typical Massachusetts town: 49.5 in). Expect about 3 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 130 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Leicester since 1950, compared with 8 for the typical Massachusetts town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 9, 1953 about 8.7 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 4 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on September 6, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 33 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 1, 2011.
Severe weather in Worcester County since 1996
Worcester County has been included in 32 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 15, 2024 | Flood | DR-4780: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| September 15, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3599: Hurricane Lee |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4496: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3438: Covid-19 |
| July 19, 2018 | Snowstorm | DR-4379: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Worcester County
Worcester County had 351,476 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $71,641 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Leicester itself the ACS puts it at 2.4%.
Public schools in Leicester
4 public schools with 1,322 students, about 12.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leicester Elementary | K-4 | 470 | 13.4 |
| Leicester Middle | 5-8 | 406 | 12.7 |
| Leicester High | 9-12 | 397 | 10.7 |
| Leicester Integrated Preschool | PK-PK | 49 | 16.3 |
Towns near Leicester
- Spencer, MA4.1 mi · 11,992 people · home $382,000
- Spencer, MA4.2 mi · 5,810 people · home $341,300
- Auburn, MA4.4 mi · 16,889 people · home $400,000
- Paxton, MA5.3 mi · 5,004 people · home $472,300
- Worcester, MA5.8 mi · 206,518 people · home $374,400
- Millbury, MA7.6 mi · 13,831 people · home $450,100
- Charlton, MA7.8 mi · 13,315 people · home $427,500
- Oxford, MA8.0 mi · 13,347 people · home $374,900
Leicester questions
Is Leicester, Massachusetts a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Leicester scores better for retirees than 6% of Massachusetts towns and quieter than 40%. 18.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.4).
How much does a house cost in Leicester?
The median owner-occupied home in Leicester is valued at $413,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $105,173, so homes cost about 3.9 times income. Median rent is $1,487 a month.
What is the weather like in Leicester?
July highs average 79.8°F and January lows 17.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.3 inches of precipitation a year and 72.9 inches of snow.
Does Leicester get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Leicester since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 9, 1953. The typical Massachusetts town has had 8.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)