Compare towns
Worcester vs Bakersfield 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 oldest population (median age 47).
Bakersfield has the most homeowners (94%).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
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 | Bakersfield | Stowe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 831Lowest |
1,109 |
5,285Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
46.4±8 8% above VT |
46.3±7.6Lowest 7% above VT |
| Worcester and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.6%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Stowe and Bakersfield 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% |
39.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
7.5%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bakersfield and Worcester 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 |
$83,462±$18k about the VT average |
$93,618±$33kHighest 15% above VT |
| Stowe and Bakersfield 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 |
$271,300±$19k 14% below VT |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,200±$327 about the VT average |
$1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT |
| Stowe and Bakersfield 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 |
$3,823Lowest 24% below VT |
$7,161Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Highest VT: 48.4% |
18.8%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Worcester and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
94%Highest VT: 73.2% |
78.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
33 minHighest 40% above VT |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Stowe and Worcester 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 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.