What stands out worked out from the figures below

Watson has grown the fastest since 2010 (-4.2%).

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	Watson	Worcester
People
Population	1,976Lowest	2,149Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.2%Highest NY: +4.2%	-4.9%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	43.7±5.4Highest 10% above NY	43.2±6.9Lowest 9% above NY
	Watson and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.1%±3.2Lowest NY: 20.5%	20.3%±3.3Highest NY: 20.5%
	Worcester and Watson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.1%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9%	17.4%±2.6Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Watson and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	19.8%Lowest NY: 40.2%	26.9%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.1%±1.3Lowest NY: 7%	6.5%±5.5Highest NY: 7%
	Worcester and Watson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$68,864±$12kLowest 20% below NY	$69,886±$23kHighest 19% below NY
	Worcester and Watson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$161,300±$18kHighest 62% below NY	$155,300±$43kLowest 63% below NY
	Watson and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$912±$194Highest 44% below NY	$736±$327Lowest 55% below NY
	Watson and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,510Lowest 62% below NY	$2,602Highest 60% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.5%±40.6Lowest NY: 52.1%	91.8%±41.9Highest NY: 52.1%
	Worcester and Watson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.6%Lowest NY: 14%	21.7%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.5%Highest NY: 54.3%	90.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 22 yrs newer than NY	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest about the NY average	26 minLowest 19% below NY
Work from home	4.8%±2.9Lowest NY: 14.9%	8.4%±4.6Highest NY: 14.9%
	Worcester and Watson 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.