Compare towns
Northfield 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
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
Worcester has the most homeowners (85.9%).
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 | Northfield | Stowe | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,920Highest |
5,285 |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below 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 | 14.6%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Stowe and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Stowe and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$93,618±$33kHighest 15% above VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
| Stowe and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
$1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,878 3% below VT |
$7,161Highest 42% above VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
78.6% VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3Lowest 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 | #42 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Stowe Town School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Northfield Middle/High School | Stowe High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Lowest |
11.3Highest |
— |
| 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.