The Research Bureau

08/20/2026

Breaking Down the Budget is WRRB's annual examination of the City of Worcester's approved budget. The report reviews the budget process and governance structure, and dives into how the City funds services, allocates resources, and prepares for future challenges.

The report highlights revenues for FY27 which totals $1.001 billion, crossing the billion-dollar threshold for the first time, as well as expenditures, which are divided across three main categories, Education (61% of the budget), City Services (21.6%), and Fixed Costs (17.2%). The report also explores the Capital Budget, which totals $172.8 million, $159.4M in FY27 borrowing and $13.4M in grants & other funding.

Read Breaking Down the Budget: FY27: https://www.wrrb.org/reports/2026/08/breaking-down-the-budget-fiscal-year-2027/

07/22/2026

06/23/2026

WRRB releases a 2026 Update of Understanding Your Neighborhood Schools.

These dashboards, developed by Worcester Regional Research Bureau in partnership with WEC The Worcester Education Collaborative, update the 2024 dashboard with 2025-2026 enrollment data for the Worcester Public Schools, MSBA's 2025 survey data, and data from the 2024 5-YR American Community Survey. As of the 2025-2026 academic year, the Worcester Public Schools (WPS) enrolls 24,677 scholars across 45 elementary, middle, and high schools.

These dashboards serve as a valuable resource offering a comprehensive view of each school in the WPS District, including catchment zone maps.

Use the Interactive Data Dashboards: https://www.wrrb.org/reports/2026/06/understanding-your-neighborhood-schools-2026/

06/12/2026

The Opportunity Zone (OZ) program uses federal tax incentives to encourage private investment in low-income communities. This brief brings attention to the next round of OZ designations and examines all 49 OZ eligible census tracts across Worcester County, including the 26 in the City of Worcester. An accompanying interactive map provides demographic, economic, tax, and transportation data to help stakeholders evaluate eligible census tracts for the next round of Opportunity Zone designations.

The Healey-Driscoll Administration is seeking input from municipalities, developers, community organizations, and residents to help inform which eligible census tracts Governor Healey should nominate for OZ designation. The Administration has also created a 2026 Massachusetts Opportunity Zone Program website with general information about the OZs. Feedback about OZs and the designation process can be submitted through the Opportunity Zone 2.0 Municipal Input Form, which is open until June 17th. Members of the public can also submit feedback through the Community Feedback Form on how Massachusetts should approach OZ designation, which will remain available until June 30th.

Read the Brief or Interact with the Map: https://www.wrrb.org/reports/2026/06/mapping-the-next-opportunity-worcester-countys-opportunity-zone-choices/

05/27/2026

Building on the Worcester Regional Research Bureau’s prior brief on the Housing Production Plan, Raising Housing: Understanding the Affordable Housing Crisis in Worcester moves beyond description to deeper analysis. While the earlier brief was designed to support public understanding of the HPP, this report examines the plan within a broader analytical framework, highlighting its most consequential findings and assessing their implications.

This report situates Worcester’s housing challenges and production targets within the national and statewide context of a growing housing affordability crisis. Drawing on a wide range of research—including national affordability gap analysis, statewide housing plans, and independent analyses of Gateway Cities—it considers how Worcester’s needs fit within a broader context of long-term underproduction, rising costs, and demographic shifts.

Read Raising Housing: https://www.wrrb.org/reports/2026/05/raising-housing-understanding-the-affordable-housing-crisis-in-worcester/

Raising Housing: Understanding the Affordable Housing Crisis in Worcester moves beyond description to deeper analysis of the Housing Production Plan within a broader analytical framework, highlighting its most consequential findings and assessing their implications.

05/26/2026

The City of Worcester and the Worcester Regional Research Bureau (WRRB) will present a State of the City Address on Wednesday, June 17 at Worcester City Hall.

Learn more: https://www.worcesterma.gov/announcements/city-manager-batista-deliver-state-city-address-june-17

05/12/2026

Worcester Regional Research Bureau announces the recipients of the 2026 Thomas S. Green Public Service Awards!

Since 1988, The Research Bureau has celebrated the unsung heroes of public service through the Thomas S. Green Public Service Awards. The Thomas S. Green Public Service Awards publicly recognize the extraordinary efforts of individuals across the region who have dedicated their careers and personal lives to our communities.

This year, The Research Bureau honors five employees who have made outstanding contributions to public service and embody the ideals of the Thomas S. Green Public Service Awards

Join us on June 11, 5pm, at the DCU Center to celebrate these extraordinary individuals.

For more information on this year's recipients: https://www.wrrb.org/thomas-s-green-awards/2026/02/thomas-s-green-public-service-awards-2026/

04/30/2026

The latest Insights Insider of the year explores protected land in Worcester County. In partnership with Greater Worcester Community Foundation and using data from Worcester County Insights and MassGIS, we analyzed publicly accessible land, open space, and how the amount of protected land has changed over time.

Read Insights Insider: Protected Land in Worcester County: https://www.wrrb.org/reports/2026/04/insights-insider-protected-land-in-worcester-county/

Our first Insights Insider of the year explores the use of SNAP benefits in Worcester County. In partnership with Greater Worcester Community Foundation and using data from Worcester County Insights, we analyzed SNAP usage, demographics, and the impacts new eligibility rules and funding cuts could h...

04/24/2026

Worcester faces an intensifying housing crisis shaped by rising rents, stagnant incomes, an aging housing stock, and sustained population growth. Worcester’s Housing Production Plan (HPP) provides a comprehensive roadmap for addressing these challenges, and was approved by the Commonwealth on Feb. 19, 2026 so expires on Feb. 18, 2031.

This brief is an overview of the HPP and the core housing challenges, broad goals, and specific strategies the City proposes to address them. The Bureau will publish a forthcoming report that examines the HPP’s projections, strategies, and implementation challenges in the context of statewide housing goals and external benchmarks.

Read Bureau Brief: Housing Production Plan Explainer: https://www.wrrb.org/reports/2026/04/housing-production-plan-explainer/.

04/16/2026

Have you read WRRB's report The Promises of the Worcester/Framingham Line?

If not, here are some of the Key Recommendations:
1. Every community along the line must work together for improved and more frequent service now, before any Allston construction begins.

2. The Grand Junction bridge must not become inaccessible - as this bridge is the shortest link to key maintenance facilities used by all MBTA trains.

3. The third track project should not be forgotten as potentially necessary for the Worcester/Framingham Line to host full Compass Rail Service in the future.

4. Communities themselves must prioritize state infrastructure projects on the line, including improvements to at-grade crossings.

For details, read the full report: https://www.wrrb.org/reports/2026/03/the-promises-of-the-worcester-framingham-line/.