Compare towns
Stowe vs Hampton Beach 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 the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Hampton Beach has the oldest population (median age 60.4).
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 | Hampton Beach | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,285Highest |
2,605 |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.3±7.6Lowest 19% above U.S. |
60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 25.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton Beach 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,618±$33kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$82,557±$17k about the U.S. average |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Stowe and Hampton Beach 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. |
$508,900±$76k 53% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Stowe and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$242Highest 3% above U.S. |
$1,375±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Stowe and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,161Highest 130% above U.S. |
$6,115 96% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±20.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton Beach 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% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 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% |
26.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton Beach 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 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Stowe High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
— | — |
| 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.