Compare towns
Elmore vs Lee vs Worcester vs Wolcott
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Elmore has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Wolcott has the most affordable homes ($221k median).
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.
| Measure | Elmore | Lee | Worcester | Wolcott |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 964 |
5,719Highest |
831Lowest |
1,507 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±3.5 16% above U.S. |
55.2±5.8Highest 42% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
42.4±5.9Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Lee and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±9.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Elmore and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.6%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,750±$24kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$83,750±$13k 4% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
$70,259±$10kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Elmore and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $315,800±$47k 5% below U.S. |
$352,700±$19kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27k 19% below U.S. |
$221,300±$23kLowest 33% below U.S. |
| Lee and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,225±$263 13% below U.S. |
$1,375±$212Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,059±$118 25% below U.S. |
| Lee and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,066Highest 62% above U.S. |
$3,980 28% above U.S. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
$3,930Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±65.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.3%±21.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
75.7%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wolcott and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #209 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 | Lee | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Wolcott School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Lee Middle/High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.2 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 20 photos → | 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.