Compare towns
Stowe vs Middlesex vs Williston 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 the most expensive homes ($648k median).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Williston has the most renters (24.9% 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 | Middlesex | Williston | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,285 |
1,943 |
10,144Highest |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.3±7.6 7% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Stowe and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.8%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
53%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Williston 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 |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
| Middlesex and Williston 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 |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$475,800±$40k 50% above VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
| Stowe and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$242 18% above VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,161Highest 42% above VT |
$6,483 29% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.5%±15.9 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
| Williston 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% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 18% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 24.4%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Stowe Town School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 | 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 |
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.