The Town FilesWorcester, New York
Town in Otsego County · population 2,112 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $155,300
- Household income
- $69,886
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 73°
- Snow a year
- 74 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 43.2
Worcester is a town of 2,112 people in Otsego County, New York. The median home is worth $155,300, below the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks quieter than 99% of New York towns, better for a vacation home than 80% of New York towns.
How Worcester ranks
Percentile among New York towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New York towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Worcester is worth $155,300, below the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $69,886, which is more affordable than 76% of New York towns. Median rent is $736 a month. 90.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Worcester | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $155,300 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $736 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $69,886 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 90.7% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 21.4% | — |
Who lives in Worcester
| People | Worcester | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.2 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.4% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 20.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.9% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 21.7% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 5.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.8% | — |
| Work from home | 8.4% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 26.3 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.0% | 91.1% |
Weather in Worcester
July highs average 72.6°F and January lows 13.6°F. About 47.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 74.1 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 3 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 155 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Worcester since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on May 29, 2013 about 8.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 29, 2013.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 11 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on July 23, 2012.
Severe weather in Otsego County since 1996
Otsego County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 22, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3565: Hurricane Henri |
| March 20, 2020 | Biological | DR-4480: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3434: Covid-19 |
| December 19, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4472: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| July 12, 2017 | Snowstorm | DR-4322: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Otsego County
Otsego County had 22,197 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $60,346 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Worcester itself the ACS puts it at 5.1%.
Public schools in Worcester
1 public school with 328 students, about 9.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| WORCESTER SCHOOL | PK-12 | 328 | 9.9 |
Towns near Worcester
- Worcester, NY2.3 mi · 986 people · home $145,700
- Summit, NY6.4 mi · 1,072 people · home $150,000
- Westford, NY6.8 mi · 804 people · home $175,000
- Maryland, NY7.5 mi · 1,760 people · home $159,700
- Jefferson, NY8.7 mi · 1,333 people · home $186,900
- Richmondville, NY8.9 mi · 858 people · home $160,900
- Harpersfield, NY9.3 mi · 1,442 people · home $222,800
- Richmondville, NY9.7 mi · 2,466 people · home $159,300
Worcester questions
Is Worcester, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Worcester scores better for retirees than 60% of New York towns and quieter than 99%. 17.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.2).
How much does a house cost in Worcester?
The median owner-occupied home in Worcester is valued at $155,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $69,886, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $736 a month.
What is the weather like in Worcester?
July highs average 72.6°F and January lows 13.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.6 inches of precipitation a year and 74.1 inches of snow.
Does Worcester get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Worcester since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on May 29, 2013. The typical New York town has had 5.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)