What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jasper has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).

Worcester has the most expensive homes ($155k 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	Jasper	Worcester
People
Population	1,308Lowest	2,149Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.4%Highest NY: +4.2%	-4.9%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	37.3±7.4Lowest 6% below NY	43.2±6.9Highest 9% above NY
	Worcester and Jasper are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	33.6%±2.4Highest NY: 20.5%	20.3%±3.3Lowest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	16%±1.6Lowest NY: 17.9%	17.4%±2.6Highest NY: 17.9%
	Worcester and Jasper are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.8%Lowest NY: 40.2%	26.9%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.2%±1.1Lowest NY: 7%	6.5%±5.5Highest NY: 7%
	Worcester and Jasper are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,588±$7kHighest 6% below NY	$69,886±$23kLowest 19% below NY
	Jasper and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$123,600±$13kLowest 71% below NY	$155,300±$43kHighest 63% below NY
	Worcester and Jasper are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$658±$149Lowest 59% below NY	$736±$327Highest 55% below NY
	Worcester and Jasper are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,250Lowest 66% below NY	$2,602Highest 60% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	35.7%±54.6Lowest NY: 52.1%	91.8%±41.9Highest NY: 52.1%
	Worcester and Jasper are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.9%Lowest NY: 14%	21.7%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%	90.7%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Highest 3 yrs newer than NY	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 26% below NY	26 minHighest 19% below NY
Work from home	12.2%±7Highest NY: 14.9%	8.4%±4.6Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Jasper 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.