Compare towns
Worcester vs Harmony vs Middlesex 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 population (median age 47).
Harmony has the most affordable homes ($128k median).
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
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 | Harmony | Middlesex | Stowe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831Lowest |
2,344 |
1,943 |
5,285Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
41.8±7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
46.3±7.6 19% above U.S. |
| Worcester and Stowe 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% |
22.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Harmony and Stowe 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% |
17.7%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stowe and Middlesex 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% |
17.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
66.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Middlesex 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. |
$58,600±$11kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$93,618±$33k 16% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Stowe 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. |
$128,300±$15kLowest 61% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$647,800±$157kHighest 95% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
$788±$40Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,458±$242Highest 3% above U.S. |
| Stowe and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421 42% above U.S. |
$2,805Lowest 10% below U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$7,161Highest 130% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
43%±18.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.5%±15.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Harmony 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% |
9.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Stowe 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 | PANAMA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Stowe Town School District |
| High school in town | None in town | PANAMA HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | Stowe High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.5Lowest |
— | 11.3Highest |
| 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.