Compare towns
Worcester vs Bath vs Stowe
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has the oldest housing (typical home built 1976).
Bath has the most affordable homes ($234k median).
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 | Bath | Stowe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 831Lowest |
1,097 |
5,285Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
0% U.S.: +7.4% |
+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
48.6±8.6Highest 25% above U.S. |
46.3±7.6Lowest 19% above U.S. |
| Bath and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Stowe and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bath and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
66.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
$67,813±$22kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$93,618±$33kHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Stowe and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27k 19% below U.S. |
$234,400±$23kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$647,800±$157kHighest 95% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,438±$309 about the U.S. average |
$1,458±$242Highest 3% above U.S. |
| Stowe and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421 42% above U.S. |
$4,413Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$7,161Highest 130% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
5.9%±61.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.5%±15.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Bath School District | 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 |
U.S. 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.