Compare towns
Stowe vs Windham vs Castleton 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).
Windham has the highest household income ($95k).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
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 | Windham | Castleton | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,285Highest |
594Lowest |
4,453 |
831 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.3±7.6 7% above VT |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
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% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Stowe and Castleton 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% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Stowe and Windham 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% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1.6 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $93,618±$33k 15% above VT |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below 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 |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT |
— | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
| Stowe and Castleton 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 |
$5,951 18% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.5%±15.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.9% VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 18% below VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 24.4%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest 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 | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Stowe Town School District | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | 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 History | 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.