CitytisticsShortlist

Cost of living, pay and housing

42.42° N · 71.69° W · GEOID 2514430

Clinton

Worcester County, Massachusetts · part of the Worcester, MA metro

MassachusettsClinton, MAClintonClinton

The short answer

Clinton is home to 7,658 people. Median household income is $79,516 a year and median rent is $1,415 a month, 21.4% of income (a ratio of two medians, not any one household's burden). Rent pressure is lighter than in most places. The median home is valued at $375,600, about 4.7x annual median household income.

What sets Clinton apart is how far household money goes. Money left after rent is $62,300, against $42,100 in its closest peers. Also notable: Rent took 24.2% of the median income in the 2019 survey and 21.4% in 2024. In the 25 places most like it the share rose 0.3 points on average, so affordability held up better here.

50OF 100

CTXCitytistics Index

Average

Clinton scores better than 50% of the 6,612 places we rate, and ranks 73rd of 121 in Massachusetts.

How the CTX is built

Category ratings · 0 to 100, typical place 50

Affordability 20%36
Economy 20%45
Safety 20%96
Amenities 15%40
Education 10%32
Commute 10%27
Growth 5%n/a

Not rated: growth, for want of data. The other weights are spread over the categories rated.

Median gross rent
$1,415
4% above the median place
Median household income
$79,516
1% below the median place
Median home value
$375,600
18% above the median place
Unemployment
5.3%
9% above the median place

Compared with the median of the 6,645 places we track. The bundle was checked 2026-11-14; each measure may refer to an older release.

What stands out about Clinton

  • Housing48% of homes are owner-occupied, fewer than in 92% of the 2,476 places under 10,000 people we track.
01

Moving to Clinton

Worcester County loses about 2.5 residents per 1,000 a year to moves between counties.

Moved in25,054
Moved out26,770
Net−1,716

Where people come from and where they go, top counties

Within Massachusetts, other states or abroad

Arrivals
Leavers
Within MassachusettsOther statesAbroad

Income per tax return

Arrivals$78K
Leavers$84K

People on tax returns who moved between counties, from IRS migration data, 2022 to 2023. Figures are for all of Worcester County; flows under 20 returns are not published.

Who moves here
2.9% of residents arrived from another county in the past year, 1.7% from another state.
Who arrives and who leaves
Households moving into Worcester County report $77,700 a year in income on average; those leaving, $84,000, so leavers earn more than newcomers.
Income you would need
$56,600 a year to rent the median home at the 30% line. From your city
Rent or buy
Median rent is $1,415 a month; owners with a mortgage pay $2,042 a month including taxes and insurance, on a median home of $375,600.
Getting to work
29 minutes each way on average; 7.8% work from home.
If it is close but not quite
Clearfield, PA matches it on character for less of your income. Compare the two
Moved here in the past year1
2.9%
50% below the median place
Income of households moving out6
$83,976
19% above the median place
Income of households moving in6
$77,737
10% above the median place
All 5 moving measures
MeasureClintonAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Moved here in the past year12.9%50% below
Moved from another state1County figure1.7%15% below
Net movers per 1,000 people6County figure-2.5317% below
Income of households moving in6County figure$77,73710% above
Income of households moving out6County figure$83,97619% above
02

What it costs to live here

Half the homes were built before 1942, older housing than in 96% of the 2,479 places under 10,000 people we track.

Clinton21.4%
Typical place20.4%

Share of the median household income that goes to the median rent. Above 30% is the usual stress line.

Income needed to rent
$56,600
a year, at the 30% line
Rent to income
21.4%
5% above the median place
Home price to income
4.7x
24% above the median place

Could you afford it?

The median rent would take
21%
comfortably under the 30% line
Left after rent, in US prices
$62,800
a year
Vs the typical household here
Same
as the median household

Uses the median rent in Clinton, $1,415 a month, and local prices for everything else (100.4 against a US average of 100). It runs in your browser and stores nothing.

Like Clinton, but easier on the budget

Places that match Clinton on character (size, age, education, homeownership, household size, housing age, remote work and climate) but where rent takes a clearly smaller share of income. Cost was left out of the match on purpose.

PlaceMatchRent to incomeMore left a year
Clearfield, PA9315.2% vs 21.4%n/aCompare
DuBois, PA9317.2% vs 21.4%n/aCompare
Johnstown, NY9217.2% vs 21.4%n/aCompare
Sunbury, PA9117.4% vs 21.4%n/aCompare

Moving from somewhere else? Work out the salary you would need in Clinton.

Sponsored · exampleMoving to Clinton? Compare quotes from licensed movers. No partner is signed yet. Sponsored offers are always labelled and never change the data.
Median year built1
1942
2% below the median place
Homeownership1
47.9%
28% below the median place
Vacant homes1
5.4%
24% below the median place
All 15 cost and housing measures
MeasureClintonAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median gross rent1$1,4154% above
Rent to income121.4%5% above
Property tax rate11.2%29% above
Home price to income14.7x24% above
Prices vs US average2Metro figure102.52% above
Fair market rent, 2 bedrooms3County figure$2,04327% above
Property tax paid (median)1$4,39034% above
Median home value1$375,60018% above
Home prices, 1-year change4County figure3.4%5% above
Home prices, 5-year change4County figure54.6%6% above
Homeownership147.9%28% below
Renters paying 30%+150.7%0% above
Owner costs with a mortgage1$2,0429% above
Vacant homes15.4%24% below
Median year built119422% below
03

Work and pay

Commutes by transit is 0.0%, below the median place (median 0.8%).

Commutes by transit1
0.0%
below the median place (median 0.8%)
Works from home1
7.8%
37% below the median place
Mean commute1
29 min
17% above the median place

More on work and pay, against the typical place

Poverty rate9.2% −15%
Unemployment5.3% +9%
Income per person$42,804 +7%
Median household income$79,516 −1%
All 10 work and pay measures
MeasureClintonAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median household income1$79,5161% below
Income per person1$42,8047% above
Unemployment15.3%9% above
Average annual pay5County figure$74,03712% above
Pay growth, 1 year5County figure3.3%11% below
Jobs5County figure356,384137% above
Poverty rate19.2%15% below
Mean commute129 min17% above
Works from home17.8%37% below
Commutes by transit10.0%below (median 0.8%)
04

Who lives here

Household size is 2.2, 12% below the median place.

Household size1
2.2
12% below the median place
No health insurance1
4.0%
38% below the median place
High school or higher1
88.3%
4% below the median place

More about who lives here, against the typical place

Bachelor's or higher24.1% −25%
Median age40.9 +5%
Born abroad11.8% +34%
Homes with broadband92.6% +0%
All 8 people measures
MeasureClintonAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Population17,6585078th largest
Median age140.95% above
Bachelor's or higher124.1%25% below
High school or higher188.3%4% below
Household size12.212% below
Born abroad111.8%34% above
No health insurance14.0%38% below
Homes with broadband192.6%0% above
05

Life in Clinton

14 National Park Service sites lie within 60 miles, more than in 88% of the 2,480 places under 10,000 people we track.

Founded or incorporated in 1653. 11 sites are on the National Register of Historic Places, 7 of them National Historic Landmarks. Its history on Wikipedia

  • Bigelow Carpet Mill listed 1978
  • Bigelow Carpet Company Woolen Mills listed 1983
  • Bowers School listed 1983
  • Downtown Clinton Historic District listed 1985
  • First Methodist Church listed 1990
  • Wachusett Aqueduct Linear District listed 1990

Out the door, against the typical place

Parks per 10k residents9.1 −10%
Playgrounds per 10k7.8 −17%
Grocery stores per 10k1.3 −38%
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k11.8 +5%
Libraries per 10k1.3 +51%
Named paths and bike trails1 km −65%
Bus and rail stops per sq mi0.0 −100%

Mapped by volunteers in OpenStreetMap inside the city limits (Census boundaries), so coverage is fuller in some places than others. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

National Park Service sites nearby

  • Minute Man National Historical Park 20 miles
  • Lowell National Historical Park 25 miles
  • Longfellow House–Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site 29 miles

Businesses per 10,000 residents (county figures)

Restaurants and bars20.1 −3%
Shops27.7 −9%
Arts, recreation and fitness3.5 −15%
Doctors' offices and clinics16.3 −19%
Child care centers2.7 +17%

Counts businesses with paid staff, so small owner-run shops are not included.

Public schools12
3
67% below the median place
Students per teacher12
12.7
18% below the median place
Public school students12
2,025
59% below the median place
All 18 schools and local life measures
MeasureClintonAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Public schools12367% below
Public school students122,02559% below
Students per teacher1212.718% below
Restaurants and bars per 10k7County figure20.13% below
Shops per 10k7County figure27.79% below
Arts, recreation and fitness per 10k7County figure3.515% below
Doctors' offices and clinics per 10k7County figure16.319% below
Child care centers per 10k7County figure2.717% above
Parks per 10k89.110% below
Playgrounds per 10k87.817% below
Grocery stores per 10k81.338% below
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k811.85% above
Libraries per 10k81.351% above
Named paths and bike trails80.765% below
Transit stops per sq mi80.0below (median 0.2)
Nearest National Park Service site919.935% below
National Park Service sites within 60 miles914above (median 2)
National Register listings101115% below
06

Safety, weather and risk

Violent crime per 100k is 38, 80% below the median place.

Violent crime per 100k
38
80% below the median place
Property crime per 100k
44
96% below the median place
Months reported
12 of 12
by the city police department to the FBI

Counts only offenses reported by the city police department. Sheriff, state and campus police are not included, and some departments do not report to the FBI at all, so compare with care.

January average low13
16°F
38% below the median place
July average high13
82°F
6% below the median place
Hurricane risk14
96.6
37% above the median place
All 11 weather and risk measures
MeasureClintonAmong 6,645 placesVs median
July average high13County figure82°F6% below
January average low13County figure16°F38% below
Average temperature13County figure48°F13% below
Annual precipitation13County figure49.0 in12% above
Natural hazard risk14County figure93.51% above
Hurricane risk14County figure96.637% above
Tornado risk14County figure82.21% above
Wildfire risk14County figure62.62% above
Heat wave risk14County figure90.00% below
Median air quality index15County figure399% below
Good air days15County figure81.6%19% above
08

Clinton in 2030: where the trends point

If recent trends hold, the median rent will take about 21% of the median income in 2030, about the same as 21% now.

Citytistics projections to 2030: each figure's own trend, blended with the typical trend across the places we rate, eased toward long-run US growth and carried forward from the latest release. The range is where 80% of places landed when we tested the same method on past releases. On projected 2030 affordability, Clinton does better than 37% of places. Its projected home value growth beats 55%.

MeasureLatest2030 projectionLikely rangeAvg. per year
Median rent$1,415/mo (2024)$1,820/mo$1,490 to $2,220/mo+4.3%
Median household income$79,516 (2024)$102,000$86,500 to $121,000+4.3%
Median home value$375,600 (2024)$540,000$392,000 to $744,000+6.2%

The median home would be worth 5.3 years of the median income in 2030, against 4.7 now.

A projection of recent trends, not a prediction of the economy or advice to buy or sell. How we project.

09

Places like Clinton

The closest matches on income, rent, home value, education and age, and the places nearby.

PlaceRentIncome
Fairless Hills, PA$1,366$80,807Compare
Orchard Mesa, CO$1,535$80,359Compare
Pollock Pines, CA$1,281$74,924Compare
Central Point, OR$1,364$86,058Compare
Central Point, ORPollock Pines, CAOrchard Mesa, COFairless Hills, PAClinton, MAClintonFairless HillsOrchard MesaPollock PinesCentral PointClintonFairless HillsOrchard MesaCentral Point

Places built like Clinton

Its statistical peers: the closest matches on size, age, education, homeownership, household size, housing age, origin and remote work, in the same part of the country. Cost and outcomes are left out of the match, so the table shows how Clinton performs against places like it.

PlaceRent to incomeIncome growthPop. change
Clinton, MA21.4%8.1%/yrn/a
St. Albans, VT23.8%1.6%/yr1.6%Compare
Webster, MA22.5%5.4%/yrn/aCompare
Putnam, CT21.0%3.0%/yrn/aCompare
North Adams, MA20.0%2.8%/yr-4.4%Compare
Barre, VT20.0%11.5%/yr-3.1%Compare
Winsted, CT21.9%4.6%/yrn/aCompare

Common questions

Is Clinton a good place to live?

It depends on what you need, so here is what the numbers say. Its Citytistics Index is 50 out of 100, better than 50% of the places we rate and 73rd of 121 in Massachusetts. 48% of homes are owner-occupied, fewer than in 92% of the 2,476 places under 10,000 people we track. On cost, space and class size it scores 30 out of 100 for families. See how it ranks with your own weights.

Is Clinton expensive to live in?

The median rent takes 21.4% of the median household income, against 20.4% in the typical place we track. Housing is a heavier load here than usual. The median home is valued at $375,600.

What salary do you need to live in Clinton?

To rent the median home without spending more than 30% of income on rent, a household needs about $56,600 a year. Work it out from your current city.

Is Clinton safe?

There were 38 reported violent crimes per 100,000 residents, against 192 in the typical place.

What places are similar to Clinton?

On income, rent, home value, education and age, the closest matches are Fairless Hills, PA, Orchard Mesa, CO, Pollock Pines, CA and Central Point, OR.

Sources and methods

The small numbers beside each measure point here. Every dataset is public; links go to the publisher.

  1. American Community Survey 5-year estimates · US Census Bureau · 2020 to 2024 estimatesTables B01002, B01003, B05002, B07003, B08013, B08301, B15003, B17001, B19013, B19301, B23025, B25002, B25003, B25010, B25035, B25064, B25070, B25077, B25088, B25103, B28002, S2701
  2. Regional Price Parities · US Bureau of Economic Analysis · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  3. Fair Market Rents · US Department of Housing and Urban Development · Fiscal year 2027
  4. House Price Index · Federal Housing Finance Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  5. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages · US Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2025 annual averages
  6. SOI Tax Stats, county-to-county migration · Internal Revenue Service · Tax years 2022 to 2023Counts tax returns and the people on them; flows under 20 returns are suppressed.
  7. County Business Patterns · US Census Bureau · 2023 data
  8. OpenStreetMap · © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License (ODbL) · Map data as of 2026-11
  9. National Park Service sites · Wikidata (CC0), units operated by the National Park Service · Retrieved 2026-11
  10. National Register of Historic Places · National Park Service · Listings through 2026-05-22
  11. Crime Data Explorer · Federal Bureau of Investigation · 2025 data
  12. Common Core of Data · National Center for Education Statistics · 2024 release
  13. 1991-2020 climate normals · NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information · Series updated 2026-11-05Averages for 1991 to 2020 computed from NOAA's county climate series (nClimDiv).nClimDiv county series
  14. National Risk Index · Federal Emergency Management Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14NRI data and maps
  15. Air Quality System, annual AQI by county · US Environmental Protection Agency · 2025 dataAirData download files

Derived by Citytistics from the tables above: rent to income (B25064, B19013); property tax rate (B25103, B25077); home price to income (B25077, B19013).

What stands out compares Clinton with places of a similar size, using only figures measured for Clinton itself; county and metro figures never count. Survey figures are estimates with margins of error. Formulas and definitions: methodology. API: /api/v1/places/clinton-massachusetts

Citytistics. “Clinton, Massachusetts.” Data as of 2026-11-14. https://www.citytistics.com/city/clinton-massachusetts/

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.