Leicester, Worcester County, Massachusetts Population and Demographics

In this article, we'll explore the population statistics for Leicester, Massachusetts, including popular demographics data like median age, number of households, household income, gender, employment and unemployment rates, occupations, religion, and more.

We are using the latest American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year survey data from the US Census Bureau, which is accurate up to 2021.

Table of Contents

Population

There is a lot of data that lets us see how many people live in Leicester, Massachusetts. The most basic data is the total population, which is the total number of people living in Leicester, Massachusetts. The estimated population of Leicester, Massachusetts is 11,077 people, with a median age of 42.7.

We can look at the total population in Leicester over the last 5 years to see how much it has changed.

Year Population Change 5-Year Change
2021
11,077
-2.09% -1.77%
2020
11,314
+0.07%
-
2019
11,306
+0.18%
-
2018
11,286
+0.08%
-
2017
11,277
- -

Population of Leicester, Massachusetts by Race and Ethnicity

We can also look at how the population has changed over the last 5 years by each of the race/ethnicity types as defined by the US Census Bureau.

Race 2021 2017 Change
White
87.9%
92.6%
-5.08%
Black/African American
3.8%
1.7%
+123.53%
Native
0.1%
0.1%
0.00%
Hispanic
4.1%
3.4%
+20.59%
Asian
0.5%
0.8%
-37.50%
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
0.1%
0.2%
-50.00%
Two Or More Races
3.5%
1.2%
+191.67%
Other
0%
0%
0.00%

This data can be very important for a number of reasons, including social and economic research, planning and development, and marketing to a multi-cultural population.

Note that the Native group includes both Native American and Alaskan Native people.

Population of Leicester, Massachusetts by Age and Gender

The age and gender of a population is another interesting demographic statistic because it lets us track trends in the population over time. For example, we can see how the population has changed over the last 5 years by median age as a total, and also by male and female.

Year Total Male Female
2021 42.7 +0.23% 43 +0.23% 42.4 +0.47%
2020 42.6 +0.24% 42.9 +1.18% 42.2 -1.4%
2019 42.5 -0.7% 42.4 +0.95% 42.8 -2.28%
2018 42.8 -3.6% 42 -1.18% 43.8 -6.81%
2017 44.4 - 42.5 - 47 -

The median age of Leicester, Massachusetts gives you an idea of the age distribution, with half of the population being older than the median age and half being younger.

This can then be used to infer and compare against birth rates, parent ages, and more metrics to understand the population. For example, an increasing median age indicates an aging population, which can be a sign of a declining population in terms of birth rates and workforce participation.

Age 2021 2017
(Years) Male Female Male Female
0 to 9 564 +17.53% 336 +56.39% 635 535
10 to 19 762 +11.68% 702 +8.13% 834 756
20 to 29 655 -18.04% 660 -7.28% 535 583
30 to 39 638 -20.53% 706 -13.24% 512 609
40 to 49 699 +5.81% 595 +28.44% 718 773
50 to 59 964 -3.49% 1,177 -25.14% 929 903
60 to 69 759 +12.92% 752 +15.66% 829 863
70+ 581 -4.62% 727 -28.73% 534 529

Median Household Income

The latest median household income of Leicester, Massachusetts is $83,015.00.

In simple terms, the median income is the middle income of a group of people. Half of the people in the group make more than the median income, and half make less. The median income is a good indicator of the overall income of a group of people, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more.

Median Income by Age

We can also look at the median income by age to see how the median income varies by age, and how it compares to the overall median income for Leicester.

  • Under 25
    $65,474.00
  • 25 to 44
    $87,300.00
  • 45 to 64
    $107,442.00
  • 65 and over
    $46,700.00

Average Household Income

Whenever we ask what is the average household income in Leicester, we are actually talking about the mean household income.

This is calculated by adding up all the incomes of all the households in Leicester, and then dividing that number by the total number of households. This is a good way to get a general idea of the average income of a group of people, but it can be skewed by a very high or very low incomes.

The average household income of Leicester, Massachusetts is currently $104,656.00.

In terms of accurately summarizing income at a geographic level, the median income is a better metric than the average income because it isn't affected by a small number of very high or very low incomes.

If you had an area where the average income was greater than the median, it can mean that there is significant income inequality, with income being concentrated in a small number of wealthy households.

8.46% of households in Leicester are classed as high income households (making $200,000+ per year).

Household Income Tiers

The US Census Bureau divides households into income tiers based on the median income for the area. This is a good way to compare the income of Leicester against other areas.

  • Less than $24,999
    8.56%
  • $25,000 to $49,999
    16.77%
  • $50,000 to $74,999
    16.31%
  • $75,000 to $99,999
    15.67%
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    21.30%
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    12.92%
  • $200,000 or more
    8.46%

Per Capita Income

The per capita income in Leicester is $37,653.00.

Per capita income is the average income of a person in a given area. It is calculated by dividing the total income of Leicester by the total population of Leicester.

This is different from the average or mean income because it includes and accounts for all people in Leicester, Massachusetts, including people like children, the elderly, unemployed people, retired people, and more.

Education Levels

We can also look at the education levels in Leicester to see how many people have a high school degree, a bachelor's degree, or a graduate degree.

Educational attainment is a good indicator of the overall education level of a population, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more to see how education levels affect income, unemployment rates, and more.

  • Master's degree or higher
    14.58%
  • Bachelor's degree
    29.89%
  • Some college or associate's degree
    11.05%
  • High school diploma or equivalent
    41.22%
  • Less than high school diploma
    3.26%

Employment

Employment rates are all based around the total population in Leicester that are over the age of 16.

The total population of Leicester over the age of 16 is 9,062.

Of those people, a total of 68.30% are working or actively looking for work. This is called the labor force participation rate.

The participation rate is a useful market measure because it shows the relative amount of labor resources available to the economy.

The employment to total population rate in Leicester is 66.00%.

Employment by Age

We can look at the employment rates by age to see how it compares to the overall employment rate.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
16 to 19 years 745 49.40% 3.30%
20 to 24 years 547 82.40% 0.70%
25 to 29 years 571 86.20% 3.00%
30 to 34 years 680 83.20% 11.50%
35 to 44 years 1,326 85.10% 2.50%
45 to 54 years 1,372 91.70% 0.60%
55 to 59 years 1,066 88.40% 2.40%
60 to 64 years 1,023 73.30% 6.40%
65 to 74 years 1,039 20.50% 0.00%
75 years and over 693 3.30% 39.10%

Employment by Race

Another very interesting employment statistic we can look at is the employment and unemployment rates by race in Leicester. The table below shows the rates for each of the ethnicity groups types defined by the US Census Bureau.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
White 8,232 68.40% 3.20%
Black or African American 244 73.80% 0.00%
American Indian and Alaska Native 16 0.00% 0.00%
Asian 52 94.20% 14.30%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 10 0.00% 0.00%
Other 152 78.30% 16.80%
Two or more races 356 59.30% 0.00%
Hispanic or Latino 356 64.60% 8.70%
Not Hispanic or Latino 8,049 68.70% 3.30%

Occupations

In this section we can look at the most common occupations in Leicester as well as the gender breakdown and earnings of them.

The total population of civilian employees that are 16 years old or older in Leicester is 5,982, with median earnings of $44,597.00.

Women in Leicester, Massachusetts earning approximately 69.90% of the men's earnings.

Population Earnings
Total 5,982 $44,597.00
Male 2,875 $55,116.00
Female 3,107 $38,509.00

Occupations by Category

In the table below, we can break down the population and earnings even further by occupation. The list of occupation categories below will show you how many people are employed in each category and the median earnings of each profession.

Occupation Employed Earnings
Management 616 $83,750.00
Business and Financial 340 $54,386.00
Computer and Mathematical 215 $91,875.00
Architecture and Engineering 74 $102,727.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 54 $96,667.00
Community and Social Service 207 $55,337.00
Legal 0 $0.00
Educational and Library 637 $56,577.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 66 $44,688.00
Healthcare Practitioners 282 $73,000.00
Healthcare Support 94 $17,813.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 44 $76,410.00
Law Enforcement 119 $54,792.00
Food Preparation and Serving 338 $14,091.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 351 $52,668.00
Personal Care and Service 245 $20,536.00
Sales 284 $19,318.00
Office and Administrative Support 817 $33,958.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 7 $0.00
Construction and Extraction 274 $57,188.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 392 $44,853.00
Production 96 $72,885.00
Transportation and Material Moving 209 $69,519.00

Occupations by Gender

The table below shows the same occupations from the list above, but we have split them by male and female to see how many male and females work in each occupation, the median earnings, and the male to female ratio of earnings.

That last metric is important because it can be used to look at the gender pay gap between men and women.

Occupation Male Female
Population Earnings Population Earnings
Management 253 $113,194.00 363 $71,318.00
Business and Financial 153 $81,458.00 187 $53,925.00
Computer and Mathematical 187 $92,891.00 28 $0.00
Architecture and Engineering 74 $102,727.00 0 $0.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 54 $96,667.00 0 $0.00
Community and Social Service 73 $55,529.00 134 $47,206.00
Legal 0 $0.00 0 $0.00
Educational and Library 189 $71,563.00 448 $55,060.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 49 $0.00 17 $65,729.00
Healthcare Practitioners 46 $250,001.00 236 $66,304.00
Healthcare Support 14 $0.00 80 $20,000.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 24 $0.00 20 $0.00
Law Enforcement 62 $19,342.00 57 $92,773.00
Food Preparation and Serving 98 $19,375.00 240 $6,649.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 293 $52,796.00 58 $32,917.00
Personal Care and Service 77 $15,670.00 168 $22,000.00
Sales 80 $25,000.00 204 $18,409.00
Office and Administrative Support 134 $27,045.00 683 $35,243.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 7 $0.00 0 $0.00
Construction and Extraction 258 $60,972.00 16 $0.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 392 $44,853.00 0 $0.00
Production 94 $72,981.00 2 $0.00
Transportation and Material Moving 187 $73,031.00 22 $0.00

Households and Family Size

A household defined bu the US Census Bureau is a group of people who occupy a housing unit. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, group of rooms, or single room occupied as separate living quarters.

There are currently 3,924 households in Leicester, with an average household size of 2.71 people.

A family is defined as a group of two or more people related by birth, marriage, or adoption who live together in the same household.

There are 2,851 families in Leicester with an average family size of 3.19 people.

Households by Marital Status

The four categories of household by marital status are:

  • Married-couple family
  • Male householder with no spouse present
  • Female household with no spouse present
  • Nonfamily household

The table below shows the total number of households and families, with the average sizes of each.

Married Male Female Nonfamily
Total Households 2,272 199 380 1,073
Average Household Size 3.21 4.23 3.31 1.16
Total Families 2,272 199 380 0
Average Household Size 3.15 3.97 3.01 0

Poverty

Of the 2,851 families in Leicester, 3.10% are considered to be below the poverty threshold.

The table below shows the latest poverty thresholds in Leicester:

Household Size Poverty Threshold
1 Person $14,580.00
2 People $19,720.00
3 People $24,860.00
4 People $30,000.00
5 People $35,140.00
6 People $40,280.00
7 People $45,420.00
8 People $50,560.00

Housing

There are 4,193 housing units in Leicester, Massachusetts.

The table below shows the split between occupied and vacant units:

Total Percentage
Occupied 3,924 93.58%
Vacant 269 6.42%

13.12% of the total 4,193 housing units in Leicester are rental units. This is approximately 550 properties.

For owner-occupied housing units, a total of 3,343 are occupied by the owner - or 79.73% of the total.

Rental Rates

The median rent for a property in Leicester is $952.00.

In the chart below, we can look at the number of rental properties in Leicester that fall into a particular rent range. These can then be used to compare with other areas, or to see how they have changed over time.

  • No rent paid
    31
  • Less than $500
    78
  • $500 to $999
    242
  • $1,000 to $1,499
    193
  • $1,500 to $1,999
    0
  • $2,000 to $2,499
    37
  • $2,500 to $2,999
    0
  • $3,000 or more
    0

Property Value

The median value of a property in Leicester is $297,100.00.

Just like with rental rates, we can look at the number of properties in Leicester that fall into a particular value range.

  • Less than $50,000
    42
  • $50,000 to $99,999
    57
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    97
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    243
  • $200,000 to $299,999
    1,275
  • $300,000 to $499,999
    1,393
  • $500,000 to $999,999
    220
  • $1,000,000 or more
    16

Property Age

We can also look at the age of properties in Leicester. The chart below shows the number of properties in Leicester that fall into a particular age range.

  • 1939 or earlier
    990
  • 1940 to 1949
    230
  • 1950 to 1959
    668
  • 1960 to 1969
    257
  • 1970 to 1979
    361
  • 1980 to 1989
    508
  • 1990 to 1999
    393
  • 2000 to 2009
    458
  • 2010 to 2013
    328
  • 2014 or later
    0

Vehicles per Household

The number of vehicles available per household can be a good indicator of the level of affluence in an area. The chart below shows the number of households in Leicester that have a particular number of vehicles available.

  • No vehicles available
    175
  • 1 vehicle available
    1,193
  • 2 vehicles available
    1,679
  • 3 or more vehicles available
    877

Commuting to Work

In this section, we can also look at how people in Leicester get to work. The chart below shows the number of people in Leicester that commute to work in a particular way.

28.6 minutes is the average travel time to work for people in Leicester.

These commute times can be compared to other date like income and educational levels to see how they relate to each other and if there are any trends in the data that might suggest a correlation.

  • Less than 5 minutes
    187
  • 5 to 9 minutes
    386
  • 10 to 14 minutes
    529
  • 15 to 19 minutes
    1,005
  • 20 to 24 minutes
    640
  • 25 to 29 minutes
    451
  • 30 to 34 minutes
    879
  • 35 to 39 minutes
    120
  • 40 to 44 minutes
    176
  • 45 to 59 minutes
    466
  • 60 to 89 minutes
    476
  • 90 or more minutes
    110

Summary

We've covered a LOT of demographic and population data for Leicester, Massachusetts in this article! Hopefully you have found it very useful in your research of the area.

If you use any of the data found on this page, please consider linking back to USPopulation.org as the source and if you have any feedback or data requests, click here to contact us.