Higher education thrives in the Heart of the Commonwealth. Worcester is home to 10 colleges and universities and more than 35,000 students. New England’s second-largest city made our Top 10 for People (#10), ranking #13 for Educational Attainment (more than 30% of residents hold a Bachelor’s degree or higher) and #15 for Foreign Born (more than 21%). With manufacturing, education and health care driving economic performance, the city also has a growing professional, scientific and technical sector and a Prosperity ranking of #22 among the nation’s midsize cities. The city is investing in its future with multiple major projects in the works. One CitySquare is a part of a multiphase $565-million redevelopment downtown, with housing, hotels, parking, a hospital expansion, and more. Main Street Reimagined is an $11-million overhaul in collaboration with the Urban Culture Institute to increase walkability, incorporate public art, and instill a sense of place on the city’s main strip.