What stands out worked out from the figures below

Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).

Charlotte has the most people working from home (29.8%).

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	Charlotte
People
Population	207,055Highest	3,916Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	33.9±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S.	52.2±5Highest 34% above U.S.
Kids under 18	19.6%±0.8 U.S.: 22%	19.6%±4.5 U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	13.3%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22.3%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	66.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	14.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$70,102±$2kLowest 13% below U.S.	$144,375±$27kHighest 79% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$374,400±$7kLowest 13% above U.S.	$695,300±$53kHighest 109% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,487±$38Lowest 5% above U.S.	$1,738±$803Highest 23% above U.S.
	Charlotte and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,733Lowest 52% above U.S.	$9,221Highest 196% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.2%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	56.1%±28.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Charlotte and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	42.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 9% below U.S.	25 minHighest 5% below U.S.
Work from home	11.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	29.8%±8.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#266 of 282 in MA	#3 of 70 in VT
School district	Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester	Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56
High school in town	South High Community	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	14.6	—
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.