What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stratton has the most expensive homes ($400k median).

Worcester has the most people working from home (8.4%).

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	Stratton	Worcester
People
Population	532Lowest	2,149Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-4.9% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	31.5±4.1Lowest 19% below U.S.	43.2±6.9Highest 11% above U.S.
Kids under 18	28%±7.4Highest U.S.: 22%	20.3%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Stratton and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	11.7%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	17.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Worcester and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	33.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	26.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.5%±5.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Worcester and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$122,708±$33kHighest 52% above U.S.	$69,886±$23kLowest 13% below U.S.
	Stratton and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$400,000±$50kHighest 20% above U.S.	$155,300±$43kLowest 53% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,208±$979Highest 15% below U.S.	$736±$327Lowest 48% below U.S.
	Stratton and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,750Highest 52% above U.S.	$2,602Lowest 17% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	12%±69.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	91.8%±41.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Worcester and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	21.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 24% above U.S.	26 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	3.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	8.4%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Worcester and Stratton 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

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.