Compare towns
Worcester vs Dover vs Groton 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1976).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Groton has the most affordable homes ($243k median).
Stowe has the most expensive homes ($648k median).
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 | Groton | Stowe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831Lowest |
1,466 |
967 |
5,285Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+21.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
45.7±5.8Lowest 6% above VT |
46.3±7.6 7% above VT |
| 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%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.3%±2.9 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.5%±3 VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Dover 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% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
38.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
7.5%±5.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Groton 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±$18k 9% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$77,250±$14k 5% below VT |
$93,618±$33kHighest 15% above VT |
| Stowe and Groton 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 |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$243,000±$70kLowest 23% below VT |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$670±$49 46% below VT |
$288±$151Lowest 77% below VT |
$1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421 12% below VT |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$3,659Lowest 27% below VT |
$7,161Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
12.5%±72.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Dover 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% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
6.8% VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
78.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
30 minHighest 29% above VT |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7Lowest 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 | ||||
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | — | 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 | 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.