Compare towns
Stowe vs Bedford vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
Bedford has the highest household income ($167k).
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 | Stowe | Bedford | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,285 |
23,746Highest |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.3±7.6 19% above U.S. |
45±2.2Lowest 16% above U.S. |
47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Worcester and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bedford and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stowe and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
63% U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,618±$33k 16% above U.S. |
$167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $647,800±$157kHighest 95% above U.S. |
$612,100±$26k 84% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Stowe and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$242 3% above U.S. |
$2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,161 130% above U.S. |
$9,803Highest 214% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bedford and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.4%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bedford and Stowe 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 | — | #7 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Stowe Town School District | Bedford School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Stowe High School | Bedford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
13.5Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.