Home addition cost in Worcester, MA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (300 sq ft)
- $45,000 – $91,100
- Per sq ft
- $148 – $297
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +18%
- US $57,500
- Rank of 300 metros
- #14
- 1 = most expensive
Worcester homeowners pay roughly $45,000 to $91,100 to build a home addition at 300 sq ft, or $148 to $297 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Worcester is 18% higher. Carpenters earn a median of $35.10 an hour in the Worcester area, 21% above the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 300 sq ft in Worcester, MA, standard level
$58,800 to $77,300
About $193 to $252 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 72% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $15,100 | $19,800 |
| Labor | $42,700 | $55,900 |
| Permits and fees | $970 | $1,600 |
| Total | $58,800 | $77,300 |
Cost breakdown for 300 sq ft in Worcester, MA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $11,600 | $17,500 | $23,300 | 26% |
| Labor | $32,900 | $49,300 | $65,800 | 72% |
| Permits and fees | $510 | $1,300 | $2,050 | 2% |
| Total | $45,000 | $68,100 | $91,100 | 100% |
What is behind the Worcester number
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 6 trades: carpenters at 50%, cement masons and concrete finishers at 10%, electricians at 10%, plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters at 10%, drywall and ceiling tile installers at 10%, roofers at 10%. Weighted together, Worcester wages are 1.29 times the national level. Labor makes up about 72% of the midpoint estimate (67% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Worcester metro is 97.0 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 300 sq ft comes to $17,500, compared with $18,000 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (102.5) and land at $510 to $2,050.
Data note: 10% of the labor weighting for this project uses a statewide median because BLS has no published metro figure for that trade in Worcester. The wage table below marks each row.
Pick a size, pick a tier: home addition pricing in Worcester
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Worcester wages and prices. They overlap on purpose: a good standard job and a modest premium job can cost the same. The grid below prices the same bands at 3 common sizes.
Basic
$45,000 to $63,500
Bump-out or simple room without plumbing
Standard
$58,800 to $77,300
Standard room addition with HVAC and electrical
Premium
$72,700 to $91,100
Large addition with bath or kitchen and a new foundation
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| bump-out (100 sq ft) | $15,400 – $21,900 | $20,300 – $26,800 | $25,200 – $31,700 |
| 20x20 room (400 sq ft) | $59,900 – $84,200 | $78,100 – $102,500 | $96,400 – $121,000 |
| large suite (600 sq ft) | $89,500 – $126,000 | $116,500 – $153,000 | $144,000 – $180,000 |
When to schedule home addition in Worcester
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Worcester Rgnl Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
April through November is the stretch where digging, grading and setting material in the ground runs into the fewest weather problems in Worcester (8 of 12 months). January, February, March and December have an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F).
In January, February, March and December the average low is at or below freezing, which means frozen ground and slower digging, compaction and sod or stone placement. NOAA counts about 130 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Worcester gets about 48 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 73 inches of snow. The wettest months are September, October and December (4.8 inches in October). Inside the workable window, May and July are the driest, at 3.6 and 3.9 inches. The station averages about 3 days a year at 90°F or above.
Does the season change the price? Probably, but we do not have a sourced seasonal price curve, so the estimator shows a year-round figure and does not adjust by month. When you collect quotes, ask whether scheduling in a slower month gets a better rate.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 32 | 17 | 3.5 | Cold |
| Feb | 35 | 19 | 3.3 | Cold |
| Mar | 43 | 26 | 4.2 | Cold |
| Apr | 56 | 37 | 4.1 | Workable |
| May | 67 | 47 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Jun | 75 | 56 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Jul | 80 | 62 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Aug | 78 | 61 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Sep | 71 | 53 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Oct | 59 | 42 | 4.8 | Workable |
| Nov | 48 | 33 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Dec | 38 | 23 | 4.3 | Cold |
What nearby projects cost in Worcester
Because every project leans on different trades, Worcester's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, roof replacement runs +49% and kitchen remodel +2%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $18,900 – $32,100 | +2% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $5,100 – $25,400 | +9% |
| Detached garage | 576 sq ft | $32,600 – $65,300 | +12% |
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $9,600 – $18,000 | +49% |
Local wages behind the labor line
Wages are the part of this estimate that changes most from town to town. 6 trades carry the job here, and each is compared with its US median. The weighted result for Worcester is 1.29 times the national level.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 50%) the local median is $35.10 an hour, which is 21% above the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $28.63 and $43.40 an hour. BLS counts 1,590 of them working in the area, 45.4 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is about average.
Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051) carry 10% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Worcester metro, so we used the Massachusetts statewide median: $30.69 an hour against $27.41 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $26.87 and $37.60 an hour.
Electricians (47-2111), 10% of the weighting: a median of $36.30 an hour, 19% above the US median of $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $27.03 and $44.62 an hour. About 1,580 work in the metro. That is 45.2 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 48.7 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
For plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152, weighted 10%) the local median is $39.55 an hour, which is 29% above the national $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $28.23 and $51.02 an hour. BLS counts 1,370 of them working in the area, 39.2 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.0), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081), 10% of the weighting: a median of $38.60 an hour, 36% above the US median of $28.33. The middle half of them earn between $33.20 and $38.60 an hour. About 120 work in the metro. That is 3.4 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 5.3 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
For roofers (47-2181, weighted 10%) the local median is $50.61 an hour, which is 90% above the national $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $28.54 and $51.10 an hour. BLS counts 350 of them working in the area, 10.0 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 8.7), so the local bench is about average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the carpenters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($43.40 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $5,450. At the 25th percentile ($28.63) it shrinks by about $4,250. The total moves by 8.0% or 6.2%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 349,880 jobs in the Worcester area. That makes it the 73rd largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.23% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 50% | $28.63 | $35.10 | $43.40 | $29.12 | 1.21 | metro |
| Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051) | 10% | $26.87 | $30.69 | $37.60 | $27.41 | 1.12 | state |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 10% | $27.03 | $36.30 | $44.62 | $30.38 | 1.19 | metro |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 10% | $28.23 | $39.55 | $51.02 | $30.67 | 1.29 | metro |
| Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081) | 10% | $33.20 | $38.60 | $38.60 | $28.33 | 1.36 | metro |
| Roofers (47-2181) | 10% | $28.54 | $50.61 | $51.10 | $26.65 | 1.90 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.29 | |||||
Home addition: what moves the price in Worcester
Type of addition
A new room is $125-$250 per sq ft; a bump-out $85-$200; an attic conversion $50-$150; a garage conversion $50-$200 (HomeGuide).
Plumbing and fixtures
Adding a bathroom or kitchen drives the price up the most.
Permits
Construction permits run $500-$2,000, or $5-$21 per $1,000 of project cost (HomeGuide).
Is Worcester cheap or dear? The local comparison
Of the five closest metros, all are cheaper than Worcester. Manchester is the lowest at about $58,100 (midpoint, 300 sq ft), 45 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Worcester, MAthis page | $45,000 – $91,100 | $68,100 | |
| Amherst, MA35 miles | $41,700 – $84,300 | $63,000 | −7% |
| Springfield, MA40 miles | $44,200 – $89,300 | $66,800 | −2% |
| Manchester, NH45 miles | $38,400 – $77,800 | $58,100 | −15% |
| Boston, MA50 miles | $44,300 – $89,700 | $67,000 | −2% |
| Hartford, CT55 miles | $40,200 – $81,500 | $60,900 | −11% |
| Massachusetts (statewide) | $44,400 – $89,800 | $67,100 | −1% |
| United States | $38,000 – $77,000 | $57,500 | −16% |
Across 300 US metros, Worcester comes in at #14 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $79,600; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $44,300 (midpoints, 300 sq ft). Statewide, Worcester is 1% above the Massachusetts figure.
Other Massachusetts metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston, MA | 2,703,890 jobs | $44,300 – $89,700 | $67,000 | −2% |
| Springfield, MA | 201,240 jobs | $44,200 – $89,300 | $66,800 | −2% |
| Barnstable, MA | 94,110 jobs | $42,400 – $85,800 | $64,100 | −6% |
| Amherst, MA | 65,670 jobs | $41,700 – $84,300 | $63,000 | −7% |
| Pittsfield, MA | 56,810 jobs | $40,100 – $81,200 | $60,700 | −11% |
Cities with a workforce like Worcester's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Worcester against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rock, AR | 358,210 jobs | $31,900 – $64,600 | $48,300 | −29% |
| Durham, NC | 344,020 jobs | $33,900 – $68,800 | $51,400 | −25% |
| Greensboro, NC | 365,410 jobs | $33,700 – $68,400 | $51,100 | −25% |
| North Port, FL | 339,940 jobs | $34,100 – $69,200 | $51,600 | −24% |
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Home addition in Worcester: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a home addition in Worcester?
For 300 sq ft, expect $45,000 to $91,100 in the Worcester area. A standard-spec job lands at $58,800 to $77,300. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for home addition in Worcester?
About $148 to $297 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $510 to $2,050 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $125 to $250.
+Is home addition cheaper in Worcester or Amherst?
Amherst is 35 miles away. The midpoint for 300 sq ft there is $63,000, which is 7% less than Worcester ($68,100). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Worcester?
About 72% at the midpoint, or $49,300 out of $68,100. Materials are 26% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 67%.
+What would 20x20 room (400 sq ft) cost in Worcester?
$59,900 to $121,000. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does home addition need a permit in Worcester?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $510 to $2,050 for fees in the Worcester area (our national range of $500 to $2,000 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Worcester expensive for home addition compared with the rest of Massachusetts?
Worcester is 1% above the Massachusetts statewide estimate ($67,100 at the midpoint). We cover 6 metros in Massachusetts; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Worcester?
The BLS median is $35.10 an hour in the Worcester area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $28.63 to $43.40.
+What do basic and premium home addition work cost in Worcester?
For 300 sq ft, basic work runs $45,000 to $63,500 and premium work $72,700 to $91,100. Basic means: bump-out or simple room without plumbing. Premium means: large addition with bath or kitchen and a new foundation.
+When is the best time to build a home addition in Worcester?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through November. May and July are typically the driest of those months. Local contractors' schedules matter as much as the weather, so book early for the busy months.
Home addition near Worcester
Where these numbers come from
Base prices are national ranges from the sources below. We scale labor by local BLS wages, materials by BEA goods prices and permits by the BEA all-items price level. Full method on the methodology page.
- HomeGuide: How Much Does a Home Addition Cost? (2026) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- Cost to Renovate: Renovation Labor Report 2026: Where the Money Goes (accessed November 4, 2026)
- HomeGuide: 2026 Building Permit Costs | Fees & Cost Calculator (accessed November 4, 2026)
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991-2020
Note on derived figures: Materials = 32% of the installed price, from Cost to Renovate's mid-range 'Structural' category split (56% labor, 32% materials, 11% permits and design). It is a category average rather than an addition-specific figure.