Compare towns
Unity vs Worcester vs Washington vs Stoddard
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Unity has the most affordable homes ($276k median).
Worcester has the most renters (57.2% rent).
Washington has the most people working from home (14.9%).
Stoddard has the highest household income ($95k).
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 | Unity | Worcester | Washington | Stoddard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,375 |
207,055Highest |
1,208 |
1,072Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
33.9±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
55±4.7 41% above U.S. |
53±4 36% above U.S. |
| Unity and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±0.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Worcester and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$70,102±$2kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$89,453±$12k 11% above U.S. |
$94,904±$11kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Stoddard and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $276,100±$29kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$374,400±$7kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$358,600±$32k 8% above U.S. |
$330,300±$20k about the U.S. average |
| Worcester and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,487±$38 5% above U.S. |
$1,106±$160 22% below U.S. |
$895±$751Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Unity and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$4,733 52% above U.S. |
$4,321 39% above U.S. |
$4,316Lowest 38% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±2.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±88.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Worcester and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 32% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±1 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Washington and Worcester 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 | Unity School District | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Washington School District | Stoddard School District |
| High school in town | None in town | South High Community | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.6 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 4 photos → | 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.