Compare towns
Stowe vs Brookfield vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
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 | Brookfield | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,285Highest |
1,486 |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.3±7.6Lowest 7% above VT |
47±5.9Highest 9% above VT |
47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Stowe and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.8%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield and Stowe 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 VT: 43.8% |
45.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Brookfield 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 15% above VT |
$98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
| Brookfield and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
$339,300±$15k 7% above VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT |
$975±$306Lowest 21% below VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,161Highest 42% above VT |
$4,560 10% below VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.5%±15.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
| Brookfield 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 VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 18% below VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 24.4%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Stowe Town School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Stowe High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
— | — |
| 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.