Compare towns
Stowe vs Waterbury vs Worcester vs Richmond
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).
Richmond has the highest household income ($108k).
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 | Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,285 |
5,405Highest |
831Lowest |
4,159 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.3% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.3±7.6 7% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
43.7±5.6 about the VT average |
| 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% |
21.9%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.5%±5 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% |
19.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Stowe and Waterbury 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% |
54.2% VT: 43.8% |
53%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
59.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.8 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.7 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 |
$108,235±$24kHighest 33% above VT |
| Richmond 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 |
$432,200±$39k 37% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT |
$1,027±$535 17% below VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
— |
| Stowe and Waterbury 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 |
$6,435 28% above VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$6,868 36% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.5%±15.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.8%±21.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
28.5%±15.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Waterbury and Richmond 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% VT: 10.1% |
4.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6% VT: 73.2% |
70.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
78.8% 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 |
25 min 6% above 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% |
22.5%±6.1Lowest 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 | — | #5 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Stowe Town School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| 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.