Compare towns
Stowe vs Dover 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%).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
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 | Dover | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,285 |
33,364Highest |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.3±7.6 19% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below 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%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Stowe and Dover 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% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stowe and Worcester 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% |
52%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Dover 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. |
$94,829±$7kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Dover 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 95% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$242 3% above U.S. |
$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Dover and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,161 130% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover 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% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.4%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #64 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Stowe Town School District | Dover School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Stowe High School | Dover Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
12.7Highest |
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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.