Compare towns
Waterville vs Wheelock vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Wheelock has the most affordable homes ($190k median).
Worcester has the most expensive 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 | Waterville | Wheelock | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 680Lowest |
717 |
831Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
51±5.6Highest 18% above VT |
47±2.7Lowest 9% above VT |
| Wheelock and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Waterville and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.9% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$27k 12% below VT |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below VT |
$73,833±$18kHighest 9% below VT |
| Worcester and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
$189,600±$37kLowest 40% below VT |
$271,100±$27kHighest 14% below VT |
| Worcester and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$93Highest 10% below VT |
— | $1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
| Waterville and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,957 21% below VT |
$2,937Lowest 42% below VT |
$4,421Highest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
| Waterville and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 60% above VT |
28 minLowest 17% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.