Compare towns
Worcester vs Chester vs Stowe
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k 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 | Chester | Stowe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 831Lowest |
2,992 |
5,285Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
46.3±7.6Lowest 7% above VT |
| Chester 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% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Stowe and Chester 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% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Chester 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% VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Chester 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 VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$93,618±$33kHighest 15% above VT |
| 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 14% below VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421 12% below VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
$7,161Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
78.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 22% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest 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 | — | #49 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Stowe Town School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School | Stowe High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7Lowest |
11.3Highest |
| 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.