Compare towns
Worcester vs Dover vs Windham 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 most affordable homes ($271k median).
Dover has the highest household income ($250k).
Windham has the youngest population (median age 44.2).
Stowe has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Dover | Windham | Stowe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831 |
2,308 |
594Lowest |
5,285Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
47.5±4Highest 22% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
46.3±7.6 19% above U.S. |
| Dover 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% |
20.9%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Stowe and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stowe 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
83.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
66.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.4%±4.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover 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 U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$93,618±$33k 16% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 293% above U.S. |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$647,800±$157k 95% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
— | — | $1,458±$242Highest 3% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,951 91% above U.S. |
$7,161 130% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
37.4%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Stowe 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 | — | #1 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | — | Stowe Town School District |
| High school 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 | 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.