Compare towns
Worcester vs Bethel vs Windham
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 people working from home (23.6%).
Bethel has the most affordable homes ($238k median).
Windham has the most kids (17.5% under 18).
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 | Bethel | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 831 |
1,736Highest |
594Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
50.7±3.7Highest 18% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
| Bethel 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% |
11.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Windham and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Bethel and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.6 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Bethel 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 |
$75,822±$7k 7% below VT |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
| Windham and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$238,000±$41kLowest 25% below VT |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,335±$220Highest 8% above VT |
— |
| Bethel and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$5,168 about the VT average |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54%±22Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
| Bethel and Windham 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% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
83.6% VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 22% above VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
27 minLowest 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Windham 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 | White River Unified School District #79 | — |
| 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.