What stands out worked out from the figures below

Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).

Albany has the most kids (20.7% under 18).

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	Albany
People
Population	831Highest	135Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.4% VT: +2.8%	—
Median age	47±2.7Highest 9% above VT	42.9±14Lowest about the VT average
	Worcester and Albany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9%	20.7%±11.4Highest VT: 17.9%
	Albany and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.5%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4%	11.1%±19.1Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Worcester and Albany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	53%Highest VT: 43.8%	41.1%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7%	0.7%±7.7Lowest VT: 7%
	Worcester and Albany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$73,833±$18k 9% below VT	—
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$271,100±$27kHighest 14% below VT	$211,800±$56kLowest 33% below VT
	Worcester and Albany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,023±$136 17% below VT	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,421Highest 12% below VT	$2,867Lowest 43% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	25.5%±37 VT: 48.4%	—
Below poverty line	5.9%Highest VT: 10.1%	3.7%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%	100%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest same as VT	1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 22% above VT	20 minLowest 14% below VT
Work from home	23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9%	9%±6.3Lowest VT: 16.9%
Schools
School district	Washington Central Unified Union School District #92	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

VT 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.