What stands out worked out from the figures below

Worcester has the most people working from home (10.5%).

Decatur has the oldest population (median age 55.3).

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	Worcester	Decatur
People
Population	1,032Highest	328Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-11.4% NY: +4.2%	—
Median age	35±13.3Lowest 12% below NY	55.3±7.6Highest 39% above NY
	Decatur and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24.9%±6.4Highest NY: 20.5%	14.6%±4.9Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Worcester and Decatur are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.7%±6.1Lowest NY: 17.9%	27.7%±6.1Highest NY: 17.9%
	Decatur and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23.8%Highest NY: 40.2%	23.7%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.1%±9.4Highest NY: 7%	4.3%±5Lowest NY: 7%
	Worcester and Decatur are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$64,474±$30kLowest 25% below NY	$69,375±$19kHighest 19% below NY
	Decatur and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$145,700±$40kLowest 66% below NY	$173,500±$40kHighest 59% below NY
	Decatur and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$765±$109 53% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,498Lowest 77% below NY	$3,404Highest 48% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	100%±100Highest NY: 52.1%	50%±100Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Worcester and Decatur are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	35.9%Highest NY: 14%	8%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%	93%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY	1972Highest 13 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest about the NY average	35 minHighest 6% above NY
Work from home	10.5%±8.4Highest NY: 14.9%	5.8%±3.3Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Worcester and Decatur 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.