Compare towns
Groton vs Middlesex vs Stowe vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Groton has the most affordable homes ($243k median).
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
Worcester has the oldest population (median age 47).
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 | Groton | Middlesex | Stowe | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 967 |
1,943 |
5,285Highest |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.7±5.8 6% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
46.3±7.6 7% above VT |
47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
| Worcester and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±2.9 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Stowe and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±3 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Stowe and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±5.7Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
| Groton and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,250±$14k 5% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$93,618±$33k 15% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
| Middlesex and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,000±$70kLowest 23% below VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $288±$151Lowest 77% below VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
| Stowe and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,659Lowest 27% below VT |
$6,483 29% above VT |
$7,161Highest 42% above VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12.5%±72.9 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Worcester and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
78.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 29% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.3%±7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Stowe Town School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Stowe High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.