Compare towns
Hartford 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
Hartford has the most renters (32.2% rent).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
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 | Hartford | Stowe | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,736Highest |
5,285 |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% VT: +2.8% |
+21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9Lowest about the VT average |
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 | 18%±3 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Stowe and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.5%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Stowe and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,125±$7k 4% below VT |
$93,618±$33kHighest 15% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
| Stowe and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,500±$26k 4% below VT |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118 about the VT average |
$1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
| Stowe and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773 15% above VT |
$7,161Highest 42% above VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
| Hartford and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
78.6% VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 22% below VT |
19 min 18% below VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Stowe and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #34 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Hartford School District | Stowe Town School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | Stowe High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
11.3Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.