Compare towns
Worcester vs Meredith vs Elmore
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Meredith has the oldest population (median age 54.3).
Elmore has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
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.
| Measure | Worcester | Meredith | Elmore |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 831Lowest |
1,467Highest |
964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
54.3±4.6Highest 40% above U.S. |
45±3.5Lowest 16% above U.S. |
| Meredith and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±9.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Elmore and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.8%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.6%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$85,938±$16k 6% above U.S. |
$98,750±$24kHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Elmore and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27k 19% below U.S. |
$230,600±$24kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$315,800±$47kHighest 5% below U.S. |
| Elmore and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
$794±$175Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,225±$263Highest 13% below U.S. |
| Elmore and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421 42% above U.S. |
$3,630Lowest 16% above U.S. |
$5,066Highest 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±53.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±65.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Meredith and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.