The Town FilesFitchburg, Massachusetts
City in Worcester County · population 41,946 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $336,400
- Household income
- $73,040
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 75 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 36.3
Fitchburg is a city of 41,946 people in Worcester County, Massachusetts. The median home is worth $336,400, below the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 93% of Massachusetts towns, more walkable than 90% of Massachusetts towns, more vibrant than 88% of Massachusetts towns.
How Fitchburg 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 Fitchburg is worth $336,400, below the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). Homes cost about 4.6 times the median household income of $73,040, which is more affordable than 49% of Massachusetts towns. Median rent is $1,222 a month. 54.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Fitchburg | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $336,400 | $510,150 |
| Median rent | $1,222 | $1,561 |
| Median household income | $73,040 | $108,622 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.6× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 54.1% | 80.7% |
| Median year built | 1950 | 1968 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.2% | — |
Who lives in Fitchburg
| People | Fitchburg | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.3 | 44.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.3% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.1% | 45.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.6% | 6.3% |
| Veterans | 4.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 13.0% | — |
| Work from home | 10.3% | 17.7% |
| Average commute | 27.1 min | 30.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.2% | 93.9% |
Weather in Fitchburg
July highs average 80.6°F and January lows 14.6°F. About 49.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 75.2 inches of snow (typical Massachusetts town: 49.5 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 147 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fitchburg since 1950, compared with 8 for the typical Massachusetts town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 22, 1981 about 5.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 23, 2015.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 23 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 5, 1957.
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 Fitchburg itself the ACS puts it at 6.7%.
Public schools in Fitchburg
10 public schools with 6,854 students, about 11.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical | 9-12 | 1,428 | 12.1 |
| Fitchburg High | 9-12 | 1,180 | 11.6 |
| McKay Elementary School | 1-5 | 762 | 11.0 |
| Reingold Elementary | 1-5 | 661 | 11.2 |
| Crocker Elementary | 1-5 | 620 | 12.4 |
| Memorial Middle School | 6-8 | 587 | 11.7 |
| Arthur M Longsjo Middle School | 6-8 | 565 | 9.6 |
| South Street Early Learning Center | PK-K | 523 | 11.6 |
| Sizer School: A North Central Charter Essential School (charter) | 7-12 | 302 | 9.7 |
| Goodrich Academy | 9-12 | 226 | 18.8 |
Towns near Fitchburg
- Lunenburg, MA5.0 mi · 11,782 people · home $463,900
- Ashby, MA5.2 mi · 3,193 people · home $390,500
- Westminster, MA5.6 mi · 8,213 people · home $422,000
- Leominster, MA6.1 mi · 43,782 people · home $380,400
- Ashburnham, MA6.2 mi · 6,315 people · home $390,700
- Townsend, MA6.8 mi · 9,127 people · home $433,200
- Gardner, MA8.9 mi · 21,287 people · home $301,600
- Shirley, MA9.1 mi · 7,431 people · home $427,600
Fitchburg questions
Is Fitchburg, Massachusetts a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Fitchburg scores better for retirees than 4% of Massachusetts towns and quieter than 7%. 14.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.3).
How much does a house cost in Fitchburg?
The median owner-occupied home in Fitchburg is valued at $336,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $73,040, so homes cost about 4.6 times income. Median rent is $1,222 a month.
What is the weather like in Fitchburg?
July highs average 80.6°F and January lows 14.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.6 inches of precipitation a year and 75.2 inches of snow.
Does Fitchburg get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fitchburg since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 22, 1981. 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)