What are the schools like in Fitchburg, MA?

Fitchburg is served primarily by Fitchburg. The district operates 4 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.1:1.

What is the median household income in Fitchburg?

The median household income in Fitchburg, MA is $65,963 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 7.7%.

What is the weather like in Fitchburg, MA?

Fitchburg has an average high temperature of 33.5°F in January and 80.6°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 49.6 inches and annual snowfall averages 75.2 inches.

Fitchburg, MA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Fitchburg, MA affordable or expensive?

Fitchburg's cost of living index is 102, where 100 represents the national average. This means Fitchburg is 2% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $262,500 and the median rent is $1,115 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Fitchburg, MA?

Fitchburg has a violent crime rate of 486.6 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1344.1 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Fitchburg, MA a Good Place to Live?

Fitchburg is a small city of 41,621 in Massachusetts, with a median household income of $65,963 and a 7.7% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 102 (US average = 100), which is 2% above the national average.

Strengths: Fitchburg stands out for solid school ratings (B).

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Fitchburg is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Fitchburg city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 101.7

Fitchburg's overall cost of living index is 101.7, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Fitchburg costs roughly 2% more than the average American city.

Metric	Fitchburg, MA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$262,500	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,115	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	55.7%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$65,963	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Fitchburg's violent crime rate is 486.6 per 100,000 residents — 28% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

486.6 /100k

Property Crime

1344.1 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Fitchburg is served primarily by Fitchburg. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.1:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Fitchburg, MA	National Avg
School District	Fitchburg	—
Elementary Schools	4	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.1:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	23.7%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	86.3%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Fitchburg sees average highs of 33.5°F in January and 80.6°F in July, with 49.6 inches of annual precipitation and 75.2 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Fitchburg, MA
Average High — January	33.5°F
Average High — July	80.6°F
Annual Precipitation	49.6"
Annual Snowfall	75.2"

Demographics

Metric	Fitchburg, MA	National Avg
Population	41,621	—
Median Age	37.6	38.9
Unemployment Rate	7.7%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	26.1 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	69.0%	59.3%
Black or African American	7.2%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	17.8%	18.9%
Asian	1.7%	6.3%
Under 18	20.4%	22.2%
65 and over	14.3%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Lunenburg, MA 5 mi Leominster, MA 6 mi South Ashburnham, MA 7 mi Townsend, MA 7 mi Shirley, MA 9 mi

ZIP Codes in Fitchburg

Fitchburg, MA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

01420

Fitchburg vs Other Cities

Fitchburg, MA vs Lunenburg, MA Fitchburg, MA vs Leominster, MA Fitchburg, MA vs South Ashburnham, MA Fitchburg, MA vs Townsend, MA Fitchburg, MA vs Shirley, MA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Fitchburg, MA affordable or expensive?

Fitchburg's cost of living index is 102, where 100 is the national average. That puts Fitchburg roughly 2% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $262,500 and median rent is $1,115/month.

What is the crime rate in Fitchburg, MA?

Fitchburg's violent crime rate is 486.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1344.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Fitchburg?

Public schools in Fitchburg are operated by Fitchburg. The district has 4 elementary, 2 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.1:1. 23.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Fitchburg, MA a good place to live?

Fitchburg, MA has a population of 41,621, a median household income of $65,963, and an unemployment rate of 7.7%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Fitchburg?

Fitchburg averages 33.5°F in January and 80.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 49.6 inches with about 75.2 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Fitchburg?

Fitchburg, MA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 01420.

What is the population of Fitchburg?

The population of Fitchburg, Massachusetts is 41,621 with a median age of 37.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Fitchburg?

Key numbers for living in Fitchburg: cost of living index 102 (100 = US average), median home $262,500, median household income $65,963, crime index 102 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Fitchburg side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.