Compare towns
Wardsboro vs Worcester vs Stratton vs Townshend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wardsboro has the most homeowners (90.4%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Stratton has the highest household income ($123k).
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
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 | Wardsboro | Worcester | Stratton | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 820 |
831 |
532Lowest |
1,538Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.6±7.3 20% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
| Townshend and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.9% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8 VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8 VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,000±$6kLowest 24% below VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
| Stratton and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $299,300±$47k 5% below VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$287,200±$79k 9% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,208±$979 about the VT average |
$1,074±$80 13% below VT |
| Wardsboro and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,345Lowest 14% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$5,364Highest 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.5%±58 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.7% VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
25 minLowest 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 8.1 |
| 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.