What stands out worked out from the figures below

Worcester has the most expensive homes ($146k median).

Jasper has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).

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	Worcester	Jasper
People
Population	1,032Lowest	1,308Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-11.4%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-0.4%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	35±13.3Lowest 12% below NY	37.3±7.4Highest 6% below NY
	Jasper and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24.9%±6.4Lowest NY: 20.5%	33.6%±2.4Highest NY: 20.5%
	Jasper and Worcester 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%	16%±1.6Highest NY: 17.9%
	Jasper 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%Lowest NY: 40.2%	25.8%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.1%±9.4Highest NY: 7%	0.2%±1.1Lowest NY: 7%
	Worcester and Jasper 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	$80,588±$7kHighest 6% below NY
	Jasper 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±$40kHighest 66% below NY	$123,600±$13kLowest 71% below NY
	Worcester and Jasper are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$658±$149 59% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,498Lowest 77% below NY	$2,250Highest 66% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	100%±100Highest NY: 52.1%	35.7%±54.6Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Worcester and Jasper 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%	10.9%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.1%Highest NY: 54.3%	83.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY	1962Highest 3 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest about the NY average	24 minLowest 26% below NY
Work from home	10.5%±8.4Lowest NY: 14.9%	12.2%±7Highest NY: 14.9%
	Jasper and Worcester 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.