What stands out worked out from the figures below

Minerva has the most people working from home (11.6%).

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	Minerva	Worcester
People
Population	836Lowest	2,149Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.4%Highest NY: +4.2%	-4.9%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	56.2±5.7Highest 41% above NY	43.2±6.9Lowest 9% above NY
Kids under 18	10.3%±4.3Lowest NY: 20.5%	20.3%±3.3Highest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	35.8%±4.3Highest NY: 17.9%	17.4%±2.6Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.4%Highest NY: 40.2%	26.9%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±2.2Lowest NY: 7%	6.5%±5.5Highest NY: 7%
	Worcester and Minerva are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$67,303±$9kLowest 22% below NY	$69,886±$23kHighest 19% below NY
	Worcester and Minerva are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$171,800±$22kHighest 59% below NY	$155,300±$43kLowest 63% below NY
	Minerva and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$784±$102Highest 52% below NY	$736±$327Lowest 55% below NY
	Minerva and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,608Highest 60% below NY	$2,602Lowest 60% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	25.7%±74.4Lowest NY: 52.1%	91.8%±41.9Highest NY: 52.1%
	Worcester and Minerva are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9%Lowest NY: 14%	21.7%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88%Lowest NY: 54.3%	90.7%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Highest 11 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	11.6%±7.9Highest NY: 14.9%	8.4%±4.6Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Minerva 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.