Compare towns
Stowe vs Wardsboro 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
Wardsboro has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
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 | Wardsboro | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,285Highest |
820Lowest |
831 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.3±7.6Lowest 7% above VT |
51.6±7.3Highest 20% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
| Wardsboro and Worcester 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% |
18.8%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Stowe and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.8%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Wardsboro 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 VT: 43.8% |
38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1.6 VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| 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 15% above VT |
$62,000±$6kLowest 24% below VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
| Stowe and Worcester 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 |
$299,300±$47k 5% below VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$242 18% above VT |
$1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
| Wardsboro and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,161Highest 42% above VT |
$4,345Lowest 14% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.5%±15.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
| Wardsboro 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% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 18% below VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 24.4%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Stowe and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Stowe Town School District | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | 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 |
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.