Compare towns
Stowe vs Waterbury vs Worcester vs Hinesburg
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%).
Waterbury has the most people working from home (28.3%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Hinesburg has the highest household income ($113k).
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 | Waterbury | Worcester | Hinesburg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,285 |
5,405Highest |
831Lowest |
4,718 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.3% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+6.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.3±7.6 7% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
50.1±5.2Highest 16% above VT |
| Hinesburg 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% |
21.9%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Stowe and Waterbury 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% |
19.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±7.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.2% VT: 43.8% |
53%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
64.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1.6 VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.8 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Waterbury 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 |
$103,917±$23k 28% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$112,539±$18kHighest 39% above VT |
| Hinesburg and Waterbury 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 |
$447,200±$40k 41% above VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$463,400±$51k 46% above VT |
| Stowe and Hinesburg 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 |
$1,027±$535 17% below VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,651±$155Highest 34% above VT |
| Hinesburg and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,161 42% above VT |
$6,435 28% above VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$7,667Highest 52% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.5%±15.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.8%±21.7 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
52.2%±29.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Hinesburg and Waterbury 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% |
7.9% VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6% VT: 73.2% |
70.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
83.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 18% below VT |
30 minHighest 28% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
20 min 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 24.4%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
28.3%±6.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
19.6%±6.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Waterbury 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 | — | #20 of 70 in VT | — | #4 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Stowe Town School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | Stowe High School | None in town | None in town | Champlain Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
— | — | 14.5Highest |
| 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.