Compare towns
Worcester vs Summit vs Stafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has the oldest housing (typical home built 1938).
Summit has the oldest population (median age 55.7).
Stafford has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.4%).
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.
| Measure | Worcester | Summit | Stafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,149 |
976Lowest |
2,251Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.9% NY: +4.2% |
-6.6%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-1.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 43.2±6.9 9% above NY |
55.7±7.3Highest 40% above NY |
41.9±2.2Lowest 5% above NY |
| Summit and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.3 NY: 20.5% |
17.7%±4.5Lowest NY: 20.5% |
27.2%±4.8Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Stafford 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% |
37.7%±8.7Highest NY: 17.9% |
18.9%±3.8 NY: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.9%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
28.7% NY: 40.2% |
29.4%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±5.5Highest NY: 7% |
0%±2Lowest NY: 7% |
1.3%±1.1 NY: 7% |
| Worcester and Stafford 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 |
$74,375±$26k 13% below NY |
$87,554±$16kHighest about the NY average |
| Stafford and Summit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $155,300±$43k 63% below NY |
$150,000±$29kLowest 65% below NY |
$182,500±$17kHighest 57% below NY |
| Stafford 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 |
— | $848±$230Highest 48% below NY |
| Stafford and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,602 60% below NY |
$2,230Lowest 66% below NY |
$4,649Highest 29% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91.8%±41.9Highest NY: 52.1% |
0%±100Lowest NY: 52.1% |
33.3%±30.3 NY: 52.1% |
| Worcester and Stafford 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% |
3.9%Lowest NY: 14% |
7.8% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% NY: 54.3% |
92.7%Highest NY: 54.3% |
88.3%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1981Highest 22 yrs newer than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 19% below NY |
34 minHighest 3% above NY |
21 minLowest 35% below NY |
| Work from home | 8.4%±4.6 NY: 14.9% |
5.3%±4.2Lowest NY: 14.9% |
9.8%±4.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Stafford 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 | 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.