Compare towns
Worcester vs Andover vs Sheldon vs Stowe
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
Sheldon has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Stowe has the most expensive homes ($648k 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 | Worcester | Andover | Sheldon | Stowe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831 |
616Lowest |
2,267 |
5,285Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -2.5% VT: +2.8% |
+21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
49.2±5.1Highest 14% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
46.3±7.6 7% above VT |
| Andover and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
22.7%±4.3 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Stowe and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53% VT: 43.8% |
43.3% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$102,500±$38kHighest 26% above VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$93,618±$33k 15% above VT |
| Andover and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$382,900±$68k 21% above VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,389±$364 13% above VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT |
| Stowe and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421 12% below VT |
$5,190 about the VT average |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$7,161Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
69.4%±47.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Andover and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.9% VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
82.8% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
78.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 22% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Andover and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Stowe Town School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Stowe High School |
| 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.