Compare towns

Stockbridge vs Worcester vs Chelsea

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stockbridge has the most people working from home (28.6%).
Worcester has the youngest population (median age 47).
Chelsea has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).

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.

MeasureStockbridgeWorcesterChelsea
People
Population
791Lowest
831
1,223Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.4%
VT: +2.8%
-3.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-0.4%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
55.3±5.3Highest
28% above VT
47±2.7Lowest
9% above VT
54.1±12.1
26% above VT
Stockbridge and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
9.9%±3.9Lowest
VT: 17.9%
12.8%±3.9
VT: 17.9%
21.9%±5.2Highest
VT: 17.9%
Chelsea and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
27.9%±3.2
VT: 21.4%
19.5%±2.5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
29.4%±3.5Highest
VT: 21.4%
Chelsea and Stockbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
35%
VT: 43.8%
53%Highest
VT: 43.8%
29.6%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.1%±1.2Lowest
VT: 7%
6.9%±4.7Highest
VT: 7%
4.8%±2.4
VT: 7%
Worcester and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$77,109±$12kHighest
5% below VT
$73,833±$18k
9% below VT
$65,913±$13kLowest
19% below VT
Stockbridge and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$283,500±$26kHighest
10% below VT
$271,100±$27k
14% below VT
$260,900±$39kLowest
18% below VT
Stockbridge and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,140±$126
8% below VT
$1,023±$136Lowest
17% below VT
$1,524±$467Highest
24% above VT
Chelsea and Stockbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,488Highest
11% below VT
$4,421
12% below VT
$3,762Lowest
25% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
53.3%±22
VT: 48.4%
25.5%±37Lowest
VT: 48.4%
66.3%±33.2Highest
VT: 48.4%
Chelsea and Stockbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.9%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
5.9%
VT: 10.1%
14.3%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85%
VT: 73.2%
85.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
81.2%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Highest
1 yr newer than VT
1976
same as VT
1967Lowest
9 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
17% above VT
29 min
22% above VT
30 minHighest
28% above VT
Work from home
28.6%±12.2Highest
VT: 16.9%
23.6%±4.8
VT: 16.9%
12.6%±7.8Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Stockbridge and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 First Branch Unified School District #82
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

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.