Compare towns

Hampton vs Worcester vs Ira

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).

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.

MeasureHamptonWorcesterIra
People
Population
1,145Highest
831
381Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-8.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
43.1±14.7Lowest
11% above U.S.
47±2.7
21% above U.S.
54.1±5.5Highest
39% above U.S.
Ira and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.9%±6.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
12.8%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
10.5%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Hampton and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.6%±3.3
U.S.: 17.2%
19.5%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
28.9%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
15.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
53%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.9%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.4%±3.5
U.S.: 6.4%
Worcester and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,796±$8k
9% below U.S.
$73,833±$18kHighest
9% below U.S.
$71,827±$5kLowest
11% below U.S.
Worcester and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$166,800±$10kLowest
50% below U.S.
$271,100±$27k
19% below U.S.
$272,900±$18kHighest
18% below U.S.
Ira and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,264±$375Highest
11% below U.S.
$1,023±$136
28% below U.S.
$942±$52Lowest
33% below U.S.
Hampton and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,007Lowest
4% below U.S.
$4,421Highest
42% above U.S.
$4,146
33% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
13.2%±25.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
25.5%±37
U.S.: 51.1%
36.4%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Ira and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
16.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
14.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
78.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
90.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
29 minHighest
9% above U.S.
28 min
6% above U.S.
Work from home
7.8%±8.4
U.S.: 15.1%
23.6%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
2.3%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
School district — Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 —
High school in town — None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.