Compare towns
Stowe vs Manchester 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%).
Manchester has the most renters (51.3% 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 | Manchester | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,285 |
115,643Highest |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.3±7.6 19% above U.S. |
38±1Lowest about the U.S. average |
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% |
18%±1 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Stowe and Manchester 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% |
15.5%±0.8Lowest 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% |
34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.4%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Manchester 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. |
$81,007±$2k about the U.S. average |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Stowe and Manchester 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. |
$365,600±$7k 10% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$242 3% above U.S. |
$1,564±$37Highest 11% above U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Manchester and Stowe 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. |
$5,922 90% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±3.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Manchester and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
48.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.4%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±1.3Lowest 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 | — | #115 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Stowe Town School District | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Stowe High School | Manchester Memorial High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
14.3Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.