What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jackson has the most expensive homes ($235k median).

Worcester has the most kids (20.3% under 18).

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	Jackson	Worcester
People
Population	1,695Lowest	2,149Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.3%Highest NY: +4.2%	-4.9%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	56.9±3.6Highest 43% above NY	43.2±6.9Lowest 9% above NY
Kids under 18	14.6%±3.3Lowest NY: 20.5%	20.3%±3.3Highest NY: 20.5%
	Worcester and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	33.4%±5.3Highest NY: 17.9%	17.4%±2.6Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.6%Highest NY: 40.2%	26.9%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±1.2Lowest NY: 7%	6.5%±5.5Highest NY: 7%
	Worcester and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,375±$8kHighest 10% below NY	$69,886±$23kLowest 19% below NY
	Jackson and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$235,400±$40kHighest 44% below NY	$155,300±$43kLowest 63% below NY
	Jackson and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,139±$43Highest 30% below NY	$736±$327Lowest 55% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,165Highest 37% below NY	$2,602Lowest 60% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	77.8%±44.7Lowest NY: 52.1%	91.8%±41.9Highest NY: 52.1%
	Worcester and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.5%Lowest NY: 14%	21.7%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.9%Highest NY: 54.3%	90.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 12 yrs newer than NY	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 5% above NY	26 minLowest 19% below NY
Work from home	11.1%±3Highest NY: 14.9%	8.4%±4.6Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Jackson 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.