What stands out worked out from the figures below

Worcester has the most kids (20.3% under 18).

Jackson has the most expensive homes ($235k 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	Jackson
People
Population	2,149Highest	1,695Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.9%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-4.3%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	43.2±6.9Lowest 9% above NY	56.9±3.6Highest 43% above NY
Kids under 18	20.3%±3.3Highest NY: 20.5%	14.6%±3.3Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Worcester and Jackson 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%	33.4%±5.3Highest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.9%Lowest NY: 40.2%	32.6%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.5%±5.5Highest NY: 7%	1.8%±1.2Lowest NY: 7%
	Worcester and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$69,886±$23kLowest 19% below NY	$77,375±$8kHighest 10% below NY
	Jackson and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$155,300±$43kLowest 63% below NY	$235,400±$40kHighest 44% below NY
	Jackson and Worcester 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	$1,139±$43Highest 30% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,602Lowest 60% below NY	$4,165Highest 37% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	91.8%±41.9Highest NY: 52.1%	77.8%±44.7Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Worcester and Jackson 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%	7.5%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%	91.9%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY	1971Highest 12 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 19% below NY	34 minHighest 5% above NY
Work from home	8.4%±4.6Lowest NY: 14.9%	11.1%±3Highest NY: 14.9%
	Jackson 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.