What stands out worked out from the figures below

South Hero has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	South Hero	Worcester
People
Population	1,586Highest	831Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Highest VT: +2.8%	-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	51.5±4.8Highest 19% above VT	47±2.7Lowest 9% above VT
	South Hero and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.8%±3.3Highest VT: 17.9%	12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9%
	South Hero and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.5%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4%	19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	61.9%Highest VT: 43.8%	53%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.2Lowest VT: 7%	6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7%
	Worcester and South Hero are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$127,434±$15kHighest 57% above VT	$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$558,300±$46kHighest 76% above VT	$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,439±$221Highest 17% above VT	$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,858Highest 56% above VT	$4,421Lowest 12% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	32.6%±21Highest VT: 48.4%	25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4%
	South Hero and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.5%Lowest VT: 10.1%	5.9%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.1%Lowest VT: 73.2%	85.9%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT	1976Lowest same as VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 4% above VT	29 minHighest 22% above VT
Work from home	26.3%±8.3Highest VT: 16.9%	23.6%±4.8Lowest VT: 16.9%
	South Hero and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	South Hero School District	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

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.