Compare towns

Worcester vs Exeter 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1976).
Exeter has the most homeowners (97.7%).
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.

MeasureWorcesterExeterStowe
People
Population
831Lowest
913
5,285Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
-14.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+21.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
47±2.7
21% above U.S.
51.7±12.6Highest
33% above U.S.
46.3±7.6Lowest
19% above U.S.
Exeter 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%
22.7%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
22.5%±4.6
U.S.: 22%
Exeter and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.5%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.9%±10.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
25.8%±6.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Exeter 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
28.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
66.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.9%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.6%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Worcester and Stowe 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.
$77,550±$19k
4% below U.S.
$93,618±$33kHighest
16% above U.S.
Stowe and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$271,100±$27k
19% below U.S.
$243,000±$89kLowest
27% below U.S.
$647,800±$157kHighest
95% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,023±$136
28% below U.S.
$867±$44Lowest
39% below U.S.
$1,458±$242Highest
3% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,421
42% above U.S.
$2,926Lowest
6% below U.S.
$7,161Highest
130% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
25.5%±37Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
24.5%±15.9
U.S.: 51.1%
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%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
9.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
97.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
78.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
9% above U.S.
29 minHighest
9% above U.S.
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
Work from home
23.6%±4.8
U.S.: 15.1%
14.4%±10.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
24.4%±8.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
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 — 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

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.