What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).

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	Dorset
People
Population	207,055Highest	2,092Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	33.9±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S.	45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S.
Kids under 18	19.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Dorset and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	13.3%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21.9%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	14.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$70,102±$2kLowest 13% below U.S.	$111,250±$40kHighest 38% above U.S.
	Dorset and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$374,400±$7kLowest 13% above U.S.	$569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,487±$38Highest 5% above U.S.	$1,420±$296Lowest about the U.S. average
	Worcester and Dorset 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.	$7,489Highest 140% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.2%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Dorset 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%	11.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	42.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S.	1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 9% below U.S.	22 minLowest 18% below U.S.
Work from home	11.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#266 of 282 in MA	—
School district	Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester	Taconic and Green Regional School District #63
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.