What stands out worked out from the figures below

Walden has the most people working from home (21.4%).

Worcester has the most kids (20.3% under 18).

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	Walden	Worcester
People
Population	1,037Lowest	2,149Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.8±3.2Highest 25% above U.S.	43.2±6.9Lowest 11% above U.S.
	Walden and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.3%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Worcester and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Walden and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	26.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.5%±5.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Worcester and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$88,000±$15kHighest 9% above U.S.	$69,886±$23kLowest 13% below U.S.
	Walden and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$238,900±$23kHighest 28% below U.S.	$155,300±$43kLowest 53% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$900±$136Highest 36% below U.S.	$736±$327Lowest 48% below U.S.
	Walden and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,944Highest 26% above U.S.	$2,602Lowest 17% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.3%±86.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	91.8%±41.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Worcester and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	21.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	90.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	26 minHighest about the U.S. average
Work from home	21.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.4%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
School district	Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78	—
High school in town	None in town	—
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.