What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jamaica has the most expensive homes ($348k median).

Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Jamaica	Worcester
People
Population	882Highest	831Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.9%Highest VT: +2.8%	-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	55.1±5.5Highest 28% above VT	47±2.7Lowest 9% above VT
	Jamaica and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.7%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9%	12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Jamaica and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30%±8.6Highest VT: 21.4%	19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Jamaica and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.7%Lowest VT: 43.8%	53%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±3.6Lowest VT: 7%	6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7%
	Worcester and Jamaica are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$79,219±$19kHighest about the VT average	$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT
	Jamaica and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$347,800±$50kHighest 10% above VT	$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT
	Jamaica and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$870±$464Lowest 29% below VT	$1,023±$136Highest 17% below VT
	Worcester and Jamaica are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,773Highest 5% below VT	$4,421Lowest 12% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	7.1%±100Lowest VT: 48.4%	25.5%±37Highest VT: 48.4%
	Worcester and Jamaica are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1%	5.9%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96.9%Highest VT: 73.2%	85.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976 same as VT	1976 same as VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 4% below VT	29 minHighest 22% above VT
Work from home	23.2%±12.2Lowest VT: 16.9%	23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9%
	Worcester and Jamaica are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	West River Valley Union Education District #72A	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

VT 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.