What stands out worked out from the figures below

Riverside has the most people working from home (20.8%).

Worcester has the oldest population (median age 43.2).

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	Riverside	Worcester
People
Population	624Lowest	2,149Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-4.9% NY: +4.2%
Median age	31.8±14.1Lowest 20% below NY	43.2±6.9Highest 9% above NY
	Worcester and Riverside are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	37.7%±7.6Highest NY: 20.5%	20.3%±3.3Lowest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	14.9%±7.4Lowest NY: 17.9%	17.4%±2.6Highest NY: 17.9%
	Worcester and Riverside are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	17.4%Lowest NY: 40.2%	26.9%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±3.9Lowest NY: 7%	6.5%±5.5Highest NY: 7%
	Worcester and Riverside are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$88,750±$26kHighest 3% above NY	$69,886±$23kLowest 19% below NY
	Riverside and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$119,500±$16kLowest 72% below NY	$155,300±$43kHighest 63% below NY
	Worcester and Riverside are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,021±$188Highest 37% below NY	$736±$327Lowest 55% below NY
	Riverside and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,023Lowest 69% below NY	$2,602Highest 60% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50%±15.5Lowest NY: 52.1%	91.8%±41.9Highest NY: 52.1%
	Worcester and Riverside are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.5%Lowest NY: 14%	21.7%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.2%Lowest NY: 54.3%	90.7%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1950Highest 9 yrs older than NY	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 46% below NY	26 minHighest 19% below NY
Work from home	20.8%±18.8Highest NY: 14.9%	8.4%±4.6Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Riverside 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.