Compare towns
Stowe vs Worcester vs Dorset
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%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
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 | Worcester | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,285Highest |
831Lowest |
2,092 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.3±7.6 7% above VT |
47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
45.9±7.5Lowest 6% 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%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Stowe 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% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
| 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% VT: 43.8% |
53%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Dorset 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 |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
| Dorset 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 |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$569,200±$57k 80% above VT |
| Stowe and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,420±$296 15% above VT |
| Stowe and Dorset 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 |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.5%±15.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Worcester 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% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 18% below VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
22 min 8% below VT |
| Work from home | 24.4%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Stowe 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 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | Stowe High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.