Compare towns
Stowe vs Windham vs Dorset vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
Windham has the highest household income ($190k).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
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 | Windham | Dorset | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,285 |
16,038Highest |
2,092 |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.3±7.6 19% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
| 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%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stowe and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Windham 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 16% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40k 38% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $647,800±$157k 95% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57k 71% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Windham and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$242 3% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,420±$296 about the U.S. average |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,161 130% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,489 140% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
22 min 18% below U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.4%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset 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 | — | #13 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Stowe Town School District | Windham School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Stowe High School | Windham High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.