Central Massachusetts

Based on the 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates, approximately 34,457 veterans live in Central Massachusetts, including 2,854 women veterans. This page includes local events and directories of veterans’ services; veteran outreach centers; VA healthcare facilities; community resources; veterans’ posts and auxiliaries; VA-accredited representatives, agents, and attorneys; elder services; and veteran owned businesses, as well as census, veteran homelessness, and public health data for the Central Region, which includes all of Worcester County.

When you submit events, use the central-mass tag so they automatically show up on here. Events in relevant cities and towns should also be tagged with metrowest and/or north-central so they also show up on pages for those areas within Central Mass. The listing below has links to see events at the city and town level. If you include the city or town where your event is taking place within the event description, it will appear in the relevant local listing.

The mission of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Veterans’ Services (EOVS) is to act as the primary advocate on behalf of all the Commonwealth’s veterans. The Office provides outreach and support through various programs. EOVS offers assistance to eligible veterans and their surviving spouses through the MassVets Financial Benefits Program, administered by local veterans’ services.

Veterans may use the Mass Vet Benefit Calculator to see what they may qualify for and contact their local veterans’ services office to apply. MGL Chapter 115 requires each town/city have a veterans’ agent to administer these benefits, but two or more contiguous towns can also appoint someone to serve as veterans’ agent and form Veterans’ Services Districts. Many municipal veterans’ services office also have VA-accredited staff to assist with federal benefit claims.

VA-Accredited Representatives, Agents & Attorneys

The directory below includes VA-accredited representatives, agents, and attorneys based in cities and towns in Southeastern Mass from the VA Office of the General Counsel (OGC) Accreditation Search Tool, updated on a weekly basis. Accreditation ensures VA claimants receive qualified assistance aligned with VA Standards of Conduct. Attorney listings also include available official state bar data, license status, registration dates, and disciplinary history, updated on a monthly basis.

Montachusett Veterans Outreach Center

Montachusett Veterans Outreach Center (MVOC) in Gardner provides support to military veterans and their families, including low-income housing alternatives and residential readjustment programs, mental health counseling, case management, employment training, personal development, veterans’ benefits resource assistance, medical transportation, and food assistance. Veterans in the area looking for help can call MVOC at (978) 632-9601 for more information.

Veterans Inc.

Veterans Inc. helps veterans and their families find stability through housing assistance, employment and training, case management, and connections to health care and other community resources. Based in Worcester and serving veterans throughout New England, the organization works with veterans to address immediate needs and build toward longer-term independence. Veterans seeking assistance can visit its headquarters at 69 Grove Street in Worcester or call (800) 482-2565.

Project New Hope

Project New Hope supports veterans and their families through case management, emergency financial and utility assistance, SNAP enrollment and benefits navigation, peer support, and retreats that provide opportunities to connect and recharge. Its Worcester location at 70 James Street also offers food and baby supplies through Sully’s Pantry, with pantry visits available by appointment. Veterans and family members can call (774) 243-7859 to learn about available programs or connect with a case manager at (508) 762-1459 for help navigating resources.

VA Healthcare in Central Mass

Veterans in Central Massachusetts are served by the VA Central Western Massachusetts Healthcare System with the Fitchburg, Worcester, and Plantation Street outpatient clinics; and the Worcester Vet Center and its Leominster satellite location located within the region. Anyone who has served in the military is encouraged to apply to determine their eligibility and Priority Group. Some veterans are exempt from co-pays due to their VA rating, income, or special eligibility factors.

Central Mass Resource Network

The Veterans Collaborative Network Directory is a shared resource that includes the various organizations and programs participants are affiliated with, as long as they’ve signed in or otherwise participated in our summits to help us map the landscape. This is not an exhaustive list of programs serving the Southeast Region, but you’ll find many here along with their websites and event listings.

Central Massachusetts Veterans Coalition

The Central Massachusetts Veterans Coalition (CMVC) was established in 1994 as a networking opportunity for veteran service providers at the local, state, federal and private levels to share and gather information that can benefit veterans, spouses and families and support similar organizations. The CMVC meets on the 3rd Thursdays at 10am (except July, August, and December).

For more information, locations for in person networking sessions, or to be added to CMVC’s mailing list, email central.ma.vets@gmail.com.

Veterans Posts & Auxiliaries in Central Mass

The Veterans Posts and Auxiliaries directory includes information about the VFW, American Legion, AMVETS, and Italian American War Veterans Posts, Marine Corps League Detachments, and Military Officers Association of America, Vietnam Veterans of America, and DAV Chapters based in cities and towns in Southeastern Massachusetts, as well as information about their auxiliaries and other affiliates.

Veteran Owned Businesses in Central Mass

The Veteran Owned Businesses directory is based on publicly available information and listings of veteran owned businesses based in Massachusetts. The listing below includes businesses in Southeastern Massachusetts. Follow the link below to update information or submit a new business.

Central Massachusetts Veterans Census Data

Based on the 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates, approximately 34,457 veterans live in Central Massachusetts (Worcester County). Veterans make up about 5 percent of civilian adults age 18 and older, or 4 percent of the total population.

Women account for approximately 8.3 percent of veterans (2,854). Around 52 percent of veterans are age 65 or older (17,784), compared with 25.6 percent of women veterans (732). Approximately 71 percent of veterans served during a wartime period (24,354). An estimated 763 people are currently serving in the Armed Forces, including 157 women, or about 21 percent.

Between the 2021 and 2024 ACS 5-year estimates, the estimated veteran population decreased by 14.1 percent, from 40,119 to 34,457. The estimated number of women veterans decreased by 2.3 percent, from 2,922 to 2,854. These five-year periods overlap, so the differences should not be read as annual changes. Estimates also carry sampling error.

If you serve veterans and are trying to learn more about their demographics, explore the most recent ACS 5-year estimates from Census Reporter for cities and towns in Central Massachusetts below.

Age, Disability & Poverty Status

Based on the 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates, disability and poverty data cover 33,705 veterans in Central Massachusetts. Around 29 percent reported a disability (9,731), and 6.6 percent had incomes below the poverty level (2,240).

Among veterans age 65 or older for whom poverty status is determined, approximately 40 percent reported a disability (6,818), and 6.9 percent had incomes below the poverty level (1,180). Around 70 percent of veterans with disabilities were age 65 or older.

An estimated 854 veterans had both a disability and incomes below the poverty level. They made up about 9 percent of veterans with disabilities and 38 percent of veterans with incomes below the poverty level.

Approximately 23.3 percent of veterans reported a service-connected disability rating (8,036), including ratings of 0 percent. Among veterans with a rating, around 40 percent reported a rating of 70 percent or higher (3,236). Rating level was not reported for 484 veterans. These figures measure reported ratings rather than receipt of compensation payments.

Whether or not a veteran has time during a “wartime” service era determines whether a very low income veteran is potentially eligible for a VA Pension. Eligible veterans over age 65 may qualify for a VA pension whether or not they have a qualifying disability.

Approximately 71 percent of Central Massachusetts veterans served during a wartime period (24,354). The remaining 29 percent served only during peacetime (10,103). These estimates describe periods of service and do not establish eligibility for VA benefits.

Education, Employment & Median Annual Income

Among veterans age 25 or older, approximately 29 percent had a bachelor’s degree or higher (10,020). Around 32 percent had some college or an associate degree (11,000), 33 percent had a high school diploma or equivalent (11,226), and 5 percent had not completed high school (1,804).

Among veterans ages 18–64, approximately 77 percent were employed (12,799), and 20 percent were outside the labor force (3,328). The unemployment rate was 4.1 percent, representing 546 unemployed veterans among the 13,345 in the labor force.

Median annual income among civilian adults age 18 or older with income was:

• Worcester County: $53,195 for veterans, compared with $47,097 for nonveterans.

These amounts are expressed in 2024 dollars. Differences in age and other population characteristics can affect these comparisons.

Veteran Homelessness in Central Mass

HUD’s Continuum of Care (CoC) Program is designed to promote community-wide commitment to the goal of ending homelessness. The Massachusetts CoC includes 12 regional CoCs, including the Worcester City & County CoC covering Central Massachusetts.

During the last week of January, CoC’s count all of the homeless people reported by service providers and counted by local police and volunteer groups on the streets. In 2023, veterans made up around 3.4% of the overall homeless population in Massachusetts, an increase from 2.2% in 2022.

From 2022 to 2023, the number of homeless veterans increased from 534 to 545, including 70 women, who made up 12.8 percent of homeless veterans counted. Veteran homelessness increased by less than 3 percent overall, with a 23 percent increase for women veterans.

The Worcester County CoC accounts for around 14 percent of homeless veterans and 9 percent of homeless women veterans in the state. From 2022 to 2023:

• The number of homeless veterans in Worcester County increased from 73 to 76, including 54 veterans in transitional housing and 20 veterans in emergency shelter.

• The number of homeless women veterans in Worcester County increased from 4 to 6 and included the only two unsheltered homeless veterans counted.

Housing Advisory Council

Established through Executive Orders filed in conjunction with the Affordable Homes Act, the Housing Advisory Council and Commission on Unlocking Housing Production is bringing together a broad range of stakeholders from across Massachusetts to advise the Healey-Driscoll administration on strategies to address the state’s housing challenges. A regional listening session was held in May 2024 (see the data below). If you missed them, you can still provide feedback here.

Worcester County Public Health Data

The U.S. Center for Disease Control’s Suicide Prevention Strategies for Communities support the implementation of a public health approach that uses data to drive decision-making. Massachusetts does not publish comprehensive data surrounding the deaths of service members and veterans. The chart below includes toxicology data for suicide deaths overall in Worcester County.