What stands out worked out from the figures below

Decatur has the oldest population (median age 55.3).

Worcester has the most people working from home (10.5%).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Decatur	Worcester
People
Population	328Lowest	1,032Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-11.4% NY: +4.2%
Median age	55.3±7.6Highest 39% above NY	35±13.3Lowest 12% below NY
	Decatur and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.6%±4.9Lowest NY: 20.5%	24.9%±6.4Highest NY: 20.5%
	Worcester and Decatur are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.7%±6.1Highest NY: 17.9%	15.7%±6.1Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Decatur and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23.7%Lowest NY: 40.2%	23.8%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±5Lowest NY: 7%	8.1%±9.4Highest NY: 7%
	Worcester and Decatur are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$69,375±$19kHighest 19% below NY	$64,474±$30kLowest 25% below NY
	Decatur and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$173,500±$40kHighest 59% below NY	$145,700±$40kLowest 66% below NY
	Decatur and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$765±$109 53% below NY	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,404Highest 48% below NY	$1,498Lowest 77% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50%±100Lowest NY: 52.1%	100%±100Highest NY: 52.1%
	Worcester and Decatur are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8%Lowest NY: 14%	35.9%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93%Highest NY: 54.3%	86.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 13 yrs newer than NY	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 6% above NY	33 minLowest about the NY average
Work from home	5.8%±3.3Lowest NY: 14.9%	10.5%±8.4Highest NY: 14.9%
	Worcester and Decatur are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

NY average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.