What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stafford has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.4%).

Worcester has the most affordable 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	Stafford	Worcester
People
Population	2,251Highest	2,149Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.4%Highest NY: +4.2%	-4.9%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	41.9±2.2Lowest 5% above NY	43.2±6.9Highest 9% above NY
	Worcester and Stafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	27.2%±4.8Highest NY: 20.5%	20.3%±3.3Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Stafford and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.9%±3.8Highest NY: 17.9%	17.4%±2.6Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Stafford and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.4%Highest NY: 40.2%	26.9%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±1.1Lowest NY: 7%	6.5%±5.5Highest NY: 7%
	Worcester and Stafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$87,554±$16kHighest about the NY average	$69,886±$23kLowest 19% below NY
	Stafford and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$182,500±$17kHighest 57% below NY	$155,300±$43kLowest 63% below NY
	Stafford and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$848±$230Highest 48% below NY	$736±$327Lowest 55% below NY
	Stafford and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,649Highest 29% below NY	$2,602Lowest 60% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.3%±30.3Lowest NY: 52.1%	91.8%±41.9Highest NY: 52.1%
	Worcester and Stafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.8%Lowest NY: 14%	21.7%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.3%Lowest NY: 54.3%	90.7%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Highest 3 yrs older than NY	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 35% below NY	26 minHighest 19% below NY
Work from home	9.8%±4.2Highest NY: 14.9%	8.4%±4.6Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Stafford 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.