Compare towns
Windham vs Stowe vs Worcester vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the youngest population (median age 44.2).
Stowe has the most expensive homes ($648k median).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k 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 | Windham | Stowe | Worcester | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594Lowest |
5,285Highest |
831 |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
46.3±7.6 7% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
| Chester and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Stowe and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.1% VT: 43.8% |
66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$93,618±$33k 15% above VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% 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 | $353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951 18% above VT |
$7,161Highest 42% above VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94Highest VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Windham and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% VT: 73.2% |
78.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest 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 | — | — | — | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Stowe Town School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | — | Stowe High School | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3Highest |
— | 8.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.