Compare towns
Stowe vs Wilder vs Windham 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).
Wilder has the most renters (37.1% rent).
Windham has the youngest population (median age 44.2).
Worcester has the most homeowners (85.9%).
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 | Wilder | Windham | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,285Highest |
3,087 |
594Lowest |
831 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +21.1% VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.3±7.6 7% above VT |
45.5±8.9 6% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
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% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Stowe and Windham 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% |
27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Wilder 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% |
60.2% VT: 43.8% |
48.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1.6 VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
| Wilder and Worcester 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 |
$75,143±$9k 7% below VT |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
| Windham and Stowe 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 |
$273,200±$18k 14% below VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT |
$1,142±$451 7% below VT |
— | $1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
| Stowe and Wilder 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 |
$5,505 9% above VT |
$5,951 18% above VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.5%±15.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
| Windham and Wilder 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% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6% VT: 73.2% |
62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 18% below VT |
17 minLowest 29% below VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 24.4%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 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 | — | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Stowe High School | — | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.