What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Minerva has the most people working from home (11.6%).

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	Minerva
People
Population	2,149Highest	836Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.9%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-4.4%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	43.2±6.9Lowest 9% above NY	56.2±5.7Highest 41% above NY
Kids under 18	20.3%±3.3Highest NY: 20.5%	10.3%±4.3Lowest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	17.4%±2.6Lowest NY: 17.9%	35.8%±4.3Highest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.9%Lowest NY: 40.2%	28.4%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.5%±5.5Highest NY: 7%	4.4%±2.2Lowest NY: 7%
	Worcester and Minerva 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	$67,303±$9kLowest 22% below NY
	Worcester and Minerva 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	$171,800±$22kHighest 59% below NY
	Minerva 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	$784±$102Highest 52% below NY
	Minerva 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	$2,608Highest 60% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	91.8%±41.9Highest NY: 52.1%	25.7%±74.4Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Worcester and Minerva 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%	9%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.7%Highest NY: 54.3%	88%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY	1970Highest 11 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 19% below NY	31 minHighest 5% below NY
Work from home	8.4%±4.6Lowest NY: 14.9%	11.6%±7.9Highest NY: 14.9%
	Minerva 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.