What stands out worked out from the figures below

Worcester has the most people working from home (8.4%).

Erin has the most affordable homes ($133k median).

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	Erin
People
Population	2,149Highest	1,912Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.9%Highest NY: +4.2%	-8%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	43.2±6.9Lowest 9% above NY	43.9±3.8Highest 10% above NY
	Erin and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.3%±3.3Lowest NY: 20.5%	23%±5Highest NY: 20.5%
	Erin and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.4%±2.6Lowest NY: 17.9%	18.7%±2.1Highest NY: 17.9%
	Erin and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.9%Highest NY: 40.2%	22.2%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.5%±5.5Highest NY: 7%	2.4%±1.2Lowest NY: 7%
	Worcester and Erin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$69,886±$23kHighest 19% below NY	$66,583±$8kLowest 23% below NY
	Worcester and Erin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$155,300±$43kHighest 63% below NY	$133,400±$27kLowest 69% below NY
	Worcester and Erin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$736±$327Lowest 55% below NY	$747±$305Highest 54% below NY
	Erin and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,602Lowest 60% below NY	$3,396Highest 48% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	91.8%±41.9Highest NY: 52.1%	25%±68.1Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Worcester and Erin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	21.7%Highest NY: 14%	7.8%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%	91.7%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY	1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 19% below NY	31 minHighest 6% below NY
Work from home	8.4%±4.6Highest NY: 14.9%	4.1%±2.4Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Worcester and Erin 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.