What stands out worked out from the figures below

Effingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.4%).

Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).

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	Effingham	Worcester
People
Population	1,912Highest	831Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+15.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	46.9±12.4Lowest 21% above U.S.	47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S.
	Worcester and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.5%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22%	12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Effingham and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	19.5%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Worcester and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	20.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	53%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.1%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$76,607±$14kHighest 5% below U.S.	$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S.
	Effingham and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$322,700±$30kHighest 3% below U.S.	$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S.
	Effingham and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,090±$121Highest 23% below U.S.	$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S.
	Effingham and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,163Highest 66% above U.S.	$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	13.6%±40.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	25.5%±37Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Worcester and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	85.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 19% above U.S.	29 minLowest 9% above U.S.
Work from home	16.1%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Worcester and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Governor Wentworth Regional School District	Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.