Compare towns
Lowell vs Windham vs Worcester vs Berkshire
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lowell has the most affordable homes ($183k median).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k median).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Berkshire has the most renters (22.7% rent).
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 | Lowell | Windham | Worcester | Berkshire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,070 |
594Lowest |
831 |
1,745Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-8.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 32.9±6.5 24% below VT |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
31.6±6.9Lowest 27% below VT |
| Worcester and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
27.2%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Lowell and Berkshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
14.8%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Windham and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Berkshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $57,404±$15kLowest 29% below VT |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$71,406±$21k 12% below VT |
| Windham and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $183,400±$33kLowest 42% below VT |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$244,600±$26k 23% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $945±$46Lowest 23% below VT |
— | $1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$1,525±$267Highest 24% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,810Lowest 44% below VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$3,545 30% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.3%±92.9 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
57.4%±52.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Berkshire and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.6% VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
77.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 55 minHighest 135% above VT |
27 minLowest 14% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
32 min 37% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.5%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Lowell School District | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.