What stands out worked out from the figures below

Monterey has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.9%).

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	Monterey	Worcester
People
Population	954Highest	831Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+13.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	62.3±14Highest 60% above U.S.	47±2.7Lowest 21% above U.S.
	Monterey and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	11.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22%	12.8%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Worcester and Monterey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	43.5%±13.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	64.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	53%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Worcester and Monterey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$152,353±$89kHighest 89% above U.S.	$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S.
	Monterey and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$603,200±$57kHighest 81% above U.S.	$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,762±$128Highest 25% above U.S.	$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,858Lowest 8% below U.S.	$4,421Highest 42% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.3%±85.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Monterey and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	85.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S.	1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 14% below U.S.	29 minHighest 9% above U.S.
Work from home	23.6%±16.3 U.S.: 15.1%	23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
School district	—	Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.