Compare towns
Strafford vs Worcester vs Vershire
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Strafford has the highest household income ($111k).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Vershire has the most affordable homes ($209k 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.
| Measure | Strafford | Worcester | Vershire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,372 |
207,055Highest |
842Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
33.9±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
45.7±9.3 17% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Vershire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±0.8 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Vershire and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$70,102±$2kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$71,618±$12k 11% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$374,400±$7k 13% above U.S. |
$209,100±$55kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
$1,487±$38Highest 5% above U.S. |
$1,117±$80Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Worcester and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$4,733 52% above U.S. |
$4,640Lowest 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±2.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
77.8%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Vershire and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strafford and Vershire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #266 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Strafford School District | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | — |
| High school in town | None in town | South High Community | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.