Compare towns
Manchester vs Windham vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Manchester has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Windham has the youngest population (median age 44.2).
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 | Manchester | Windham | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,486Highest |
594Lowest |
831 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.5±6.3Highest 26% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
| Manchester and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Windham and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.7%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Manchester and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,886±$23kHighest 17% above VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
| Manchester and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $454,600±$47kHighest 44% above VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,057±$76Highest 14% below VT |
— | $1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
| Manchester and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,923 18% above VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.5%±13.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Manchester and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 39% below VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.1%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Manchester 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 | #37 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.