What stands out worked out from the figures below

Harpersfield has the most people working from home (13.1%).

Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (-4.9%).

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	Harpersfield	Worcester
People
Population	1,568Lowest	2,149Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-8.6%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-4.9%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	50.8±4Highest 28% above NY	43.2±6.9Lowest 9% above NY
	Harpersfield and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.9%±4.7Lowest NY: 20.5%	20.3%±3.3Highest NY: 20.5%
	Worcester and Harpersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.7%±3.3Highest NY: 17.9%	17.4%±2.6Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.1%Lowest NY: 40.2%	26.9%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±1.4Lowest NY: 7%	6.5%±5.5Highest NY: 7%
	Worcester and Harpersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$52,118±$9kLowest 39% below NY	$69,886±$23kHighest 19% below NY
	Worcester and Harpersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$222,800±$50kHighest 47% below NY	$155,300±$43kLowest 63% below NY
	Harpersfield and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$850±$185Highest 48% below NY	$736±$327Lowest 55% below NY
	Harpersfield and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,953Highest 40% below NY	$2,602Lowest 60% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.1%±15Lowest NY: 52.1%	91.8%±41.9Highest NY: 52.1%
	Worcester and Harpersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	18.5%Lowest NY: 14%	21.7%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.4%Lowest NY: 54.3%	90.7%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Highest 8 yrs newer than NY	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 5% below NY	26 minLowest 19% below NY
Work from home	13.1%±5.5Highest NY: 14.9%	8.4%±4.6Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Harpersfield and Worcester 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.