What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (-4.9%).

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	Worcester
People
Population	1,032Lowest	2,149Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-11.4%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-4.9%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	35±13.3Lowest 12% below NY	43.2±6.9Highest 9% above NY
	Worcester 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%	20.3%±3.3Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Worcester 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%	17.4%±2.6Highest NY: 17.9%
	Worcester 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%	26.9%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.1%±9.4Highest NY: 7%	6.5%±5.5Lowest NY: 7%
	Worcester and Worcester 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	$69,886±$23kHighest 19% below NY
	Worcester 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	$155,300±$43kHighest 63% below NY
	Worcester and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$736±$327 55% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,498Lowest 77% below NY	$2,602Highest 60% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	100%±100Highest NY: 52.1%	91.8%±41.9Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Worcester and Worcester 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%	21.7%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%	90.7%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938 21 yrs older than NY	1938 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	10.5%±8.4Highest NY: 14.9%	8.4%±4.6Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Worcester 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.