Worcester and Central Massachusetts

UMass Chan Medical School and our clinical partner, UMassMemorial Health Care, are located in Worcester, the 'heart' of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The demographic diversity of central Massachusetts assures a broad clinical experience for our trainees and our central New England location assures a wide variety of community resources for you and your family. There is nowhere else in the Northeast that can match Worcester's accessibility to outdoor and urban cultural activities.

Location

Worcester, Massachusetts is the second largest city in New England with a population of 175,900. Known as the 'city of seven hills' Worcester's diverse physical landscape is unique with neighborhoods settled between our winding rivers, expansive lakes and rolling hills.

Worcester's central location means easy access to the pristine beaches of Cape Cod, skiing in New Hampshire, hiking in Vermont and camping in Maine. The fine dining, dancing, theater and shopping attractions of Boston and Providence, RI are only a short car or train ride away. You and your family are sure to find plenty of recreational activities and educational resources in and around our city.

Arts & Culture 

Worcester boasts a healthy active arts and cultural community. World renowned Mechanics Hall is located on Main Street, hosting first class entertainment (symphony concerts, ballet). The DCU Center houses a convention center (auto shows, car shows, etc.) and concert arena. The DCU Center is also home to the Worcester Railers hockey team. The Hanover Theater is features a Broadway series, bringing several Broadway productions to Worcester each year. 

Education

Greater Worcester is the home to outstanding colleges and universities: Anna Maria College, Assumption College, Becker College, Clark University, College of the Holy Cross, Mass. College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences, Nichols College, Quinsigamond Community College, Tufts Veterinary School, Worcester State University, Worcester Polytechnic Institute and the Worcester Foundation for Biomedical Research which recently partnered with UMass. The Worcester Center for Crafts, Worcester Art Museum, state parks, theater groups, Old Sturbridge Village, and Mt. Wachusett ski area represent some of the activities available to residents and their families.

34 elementary, 4 middle and 7 public high schools make up the public school system.

Housing 

Housing is available in Worcester and surrounding towns at a favorable cost compared to other major cities in the region. Interstate highways allow residents to live in suburban and some rural areas and still be only ten minutes from the hospital. The MBTA Commuter Rail service operates the "Framingham/Worcester Line" between Worcester and Boston.