What stands out worked out from the figures below

Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (-4.9%).

Worcester has the most people working from home (10.5%).

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	Worcester
People
Population	2,149Highest	1,032Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.9%Highest NY: +4.2%	-11.4%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	43.2±6.9Highest 9% above NY	35±13.3Lowest 12% below NY
	Worcester 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%	24.9%±6.4Highest NY: 20.5%
	Worcester and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.4%±2.6Highest NY: 17.9%	15.7%±6.1Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Worcester 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%	23.8%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.5%±5.5Lowest NY: 7%	8.1%±9.4Highest NY: 7%
	Worcester and Worcester 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	$64,474±$30kLowest 25% below NY
	Worcester 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±$43kHighest 63% below NY	$145,700±$40kLowest 66% below NY
	Worcester and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$736±$327 55% below NY	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,602Highest 60% below NY	$1,498Lowest 77% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	91.8%±41.9Lowest NY: 52.1%	100%±100Highest NY: 52.1%
	Worcester and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	21.7%Lowest NY: 14%	35.9%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.7%Highest NY: 54.3%	86.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938 21 yrs older than NY	1938 21 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 19% below NY	33 minHighest about the NY average
Work from home	8.4%±4.6Lowest NY: 14.9%	10.5%±8.4Highest NY: 14.9%
	Worcester 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.