Compare towns
Worcester vs Bristol 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).
Bristol has the most renters (28.7% rent).
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 | Bristol | Stowe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 831Lowest |
3,778 |
5,285Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.9% VT: +2.8% |
+21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
47.9±4.8Highest 11% above VT |
46.3±7.6Lowest 7% above VT |
| Bristol 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 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.8 VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Stowe and Bristol 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% |
41.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±3.2 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Bristol 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 |
$74,620±$8k 8% below VT |
$93,618±$33kHighest 15% above VT |
| Stowe and Bristol 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 |
$337,300±$46k 7% above VT |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,275±$181 3% above VT |
$1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT |
| Stowe and Bristol 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 |
$5,978 19% above VT |
$7,161Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
47.9%±14.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Bristol and Worcester 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% |
10.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
78.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 22% above VT |
25 min 5% above VT |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±6.1Lowest 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 | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #31 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | Stowe Town School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt. Abraham Union High School | Stowe High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
11.3Lowest |
| 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.