Compare towns

Worcester vs Gorham 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 homeowners (85.9%).
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($162k 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.

MeasureWorcesterGorhamStowe
People
Population
831Lowest
2,682
5,285Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+21.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
47±2.7
21% above U.S.
53.9±3.6Highest
39% above U.S.
46.3±7.6Lowest
19% above U.S.
Kids under 18
12.8%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
12.5%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.5%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
19.5%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
31.7%±6.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
25.8%±6.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Gorham 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%
20.7%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%
6.7%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
1.6%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Worcester and Gorham 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 U.S.
$61,275±$7kLowest
24% below U.S.
$93,618±$33kHighest
16% above U.S.
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
19% below U.S.
$161,600±$49kLowest
51% below U.S.
$647,800±$157kHighest
95% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,023±$136
28% below U.S.
$838±$83Lowest
41% below U.S.
$1,458±$242Highest
3% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,421
42% above U.S.
$4,334Lowest
39% above U.S.
$7,161Highest
130% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
25.5%±37
U.S.: 51.1%
41%±20.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
24.5%±15.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Gorham and Worcester 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%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
78.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
9% above U.S.
23 min
14% below U.S.
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
Work from home
23.6%±4.8
U.S.: 15.1%
1.7%±1.8Lowest
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
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #57 of 120 in NH —
School district Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District Stowe Town School District
High school in town None in town Gorham High School Stowe High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.0Lowest
11.3Highest
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.