Commonly known as the Canal District, Green Island is where gritty and gray Worcester gets a true pop of color. Named after the Blackstone Canal that powered the area during the American Industrial Revolution, the district is a walkable area with cupcake shops, upscale restaurants, a European-style marketplace and a brand-new minor league baseball stadium.
Green Island neighbors live in converted brick factory condominiums and three-decker houses, which were popularized in Worcester during the industrial age. Locals walk out their front doors, down the steps and up the fading sidewalks for coffee and boba tea from merchants on Water and Green streets. Gray and rainy Worcester Saturdays are spent at an indoor marketplace, where mom-and-pop shops sell fresh flowers, hot sauce and ramen. Audible cheers from the nearby baseball stadium can be heard at nearby apartments on spring afternoons, whether or not people keep their windows open. The neighborhood is walkable, but drivers will have their patience tested, as Green Island has the most notoriously hectic traffic circle in Massachusetts.
Locals are found walking outside of Worcester Public Market.
Green Island is where gritty and gray Worcester gets a true pop of color.
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Repurposed factories and three-decker homes
Three-decker homes built in the late 19th- and early 20th centuries line the urban residential streets of Green Island. These multifamily houses became popular during the Industrial Age because they made spatial and economic sense. Triple-deckers sit right next to each other on urban streets, behind fences and sidewalks, with no front lawns. Condos in ornate Art Deco buildings are also available, and units inside converted brick manufacturing centers are for sale. Home prices in Green Island range from $300,000 to $400,000. The median sale price for a single-family home in Worcester is just under $400,000.
You’ll find a lot of Worcester three-decker homes near manufacturing facilities in Green Island.
Triple decker homes offer affordable, multi-family units in the Green Island neighborhood.
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Drop in for a quick bite with friends at Green Island's BirchTree Bread Company.
Having a blast, eating fresh bread
Green Island is where people go to have a good time. Birch Tree Bread Co., located inside the historic brick Crompton building, is a popular place to start the day. The rustic bakery has high ceilings, which creates a busy, lively environment, and people fawn over its fresh bread and tomato bisque. At the European-style open-air Worcester Public Market, locals sip sudsy beers at the Wachusett Brew Yard. The intimate Lock 50 is a popular spot for date nights, and down the street, Whiskey on Water features a massive menu of bourbons, scotches, Irish whiskeys and more. It’s open late, and people head there to watch live bands or dance as DJs spin tunes. People get takeout from Che! Empanada and sweet treats from the Queen’s Cups, where the cupcakes and brownies have a cult following.
Truck day is an annual tradition at Polar Park stadium. Perfect for baseball fans.
A baseball stadium and wild intersection
In 2021, the minor league Worcester Red Sox played their first game at Polar Park, a new stadium built in Green Island specifically for the so-called “WooSox.” Baseball fans living in Green Island can walk to games, but non-fans might find the extra crowding on game days to be a nuisance. Undeniably a nuisance is Kelley Square, a seven-way intersection so notorious in Massachusetts that some locals stick “this car survived Kelley Square” stickers to their back bumpers. The city invested in Kelley Square over the past few years, making improvements to account for more pedestrian traffic in Green Island. But navigating the intersection successfully – without stopping in the middle -- is still considered a Worcester rite of passage.
Learn new tricks to show your buddies at the Crompton Skatepark in Green Island, MA.
Open fields and a skate park
Green Island is an urban neighborhood, more of a concrete jungle than an urban green space. Neighbors who want to get active can head to Crompton Park for a baseball game or to relax. Children splash around in the park’s outdoor swimming pool in the summertime.
Worcester Public Schools with career-specific programs
Kids living in Green Island can attend Worcester Public Schools. The district has nearly 24,000 students and a B-minus rating from Niche. Kids can attend Chandler Magnet School, Worcester East Middle School and North High School. Chandler and Worcester East have C ratings from Niche, and North High School is rated C-plus. North High School offers a health science academy and business technology program, and admission is based on a lottery system.
Getting around by car, train and bus
Green Island hugs Interstate 290, the main highway in Worcester. I-290 connects to other roadways like Interstate 495 and the Massachusetts Turnpike. Nearby Route 146 connects Worcester to Providence, Rhode Island, and train commuters can ride into Boston via nearby Union Station. The Worcester Regional Transit Authority has several bus stops along Green Street, linking the area to downtown. The drive from Green Island to Boston takes about an hour.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Elaine Evans,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
Cristoforo Colombo Park
Baseball/Softball
Basketball
Picnic Area
Vernon Hill Playground
Worcester Commons
Oread Castle Park
The Worcester Common Oval
Holmes Field
Transit
Airport
Worcester Regional
12 min drive
Bus
Millbury St & Endicott St
Bus
Grafton St & Franklin St
Bus
Ashmont Ave & Harding St
Bus
Green St & Harding St
Bus
Green St & Goddard St
Bus
Millbury St & Seymour St
Bus
Green St & Gold St
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Green Island
US
Homicide
6
4
Sexual Assault
5
4
Assault with Weapon
7
4
Robbery
8
4
Burglary
6
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
7
4
Larceny
6
4
Crime Score
7
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Green Island, Worcester sell after 72 days on the market compared to the national average of 47 days. The average sale price for homes in Green Island, Worcester over the last 12 months is $324,966, down 12% from the average home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Check out this stunning 3-family building just steps from Worcester’s Polar Park! A fantastic investment opportunity, this fully remodeled property features reconfigured units with 1.5 bathrooms and in-unit laundry hookups. Each unit showcases laminate flooring throughout, white shaker cabinetry, quartz countertops, and stainless steel appliances. All units are equipped with updated gas forced
Paul O'RourkeThe O'Rourke Group Real Estate Professionals
Owner Occupants & Investors take NOTICE!!!!! Schedule your appointment to view this great 3-family home offering a total of 18 rooms, 9-bedrooms & 3-full baths. 2 units are leased and will convey with sale. Seller is motivated, bring all offers!!!!
Presenting a new luxury apartment community in Worcester’s Canal District, offering unparalleled excitement, energy, and views. Residents can energize themselves in our advanced fitness center, relax on our impressive rooftop deck, or concentrate in one of our specialized co-working areas. Enjoy privileged access to the neighborhood's activities, including concerts, festivals, and Woo Sox games.
Welcome to Tavolo Lofts — where iconic history meets modern living in downtown Worcester! Set in the legendary Table Talk Pie building near the Public Market, Tavolo (Italian for “table”) blends Italian spirit with sophisticated design. Enjoy ground-floor amenities like a gelateria, Italian restaurant, deli, and retail. Pet-friendly with a dog park, bike storage, elevator access, laundry, fitness
Newer Apartments in a Worcester LandmarkNewly renovated, fully-furnished apartments in a building loaded with character, including exposed-brick walls, concrete floors, and oversized windows. *LEASING IS BY THE BEDROOM.
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Elaine Evans,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
2,600
Median Age
34
Population Density
13 ppl/acre
Population under 18
24.3%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
10.7%
Below the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$38,088
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$59,777
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
68.7%
Below the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
25%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
9.8%
% Population in Labor Force
58%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
48''
Average Winter Low Temperature
17°F
Average Summer High Temperature
79°F
Annual Snowfall
45''
Area Factors
Bikeable
Bike Score®
58/ 100
Walker's Paradise
Walk Score®
91/ 100
Good Transit
Transit Score®
54/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
