Compare towns
Stowe vs Hanover vs Williston 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%).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hanover | Williston | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,285 |
8,479 |
10,144Highest |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.3±7.6 19% above U.S. |
21.8±0.3Lowest 44% below U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% 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%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Stowe and Williston 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% |
17.6%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stowe and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
89.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
49.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $93,618±$33k 16% above U.S. |
$153,281±$26kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $647,800±$157k 95% above U.S. |
$842,600±$97kHighest 153% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Hanover and Stowe 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. |
$2,254±$249Highest 60% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130 30% above U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,161 130% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Williston 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.4%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover 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 | — | #1 of 120 in NH | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Stowe Town School District | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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 | 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.