Compare towns
Worcester vs Lee 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).
Lee has the oldest population (median age 55.2).
Windham has the youngest population (median age 44.2).
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 | Lee | Windham | Stowe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831 |
5,719Highest |
594Lowest |
5,285 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
55.2±5.8Highest 42% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
46.3±7.6 19% above U.S. |
| Lee 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 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Stowe and Windham 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% |
33.4%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee 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% |
44.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
66.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Lee 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. |
$83,750±$13k 4% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$93,618±$33k 16% above U.S. |
| Windham 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±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$352,700±$19k 6% above U.S. |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$647,800±$157kHighest 95% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,375±$212 about the U.S. average |
— | $1,458±$242Highest 3% above U.S. |
| Stowe and Lee 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. |
$3,980Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$5,951 91% above U.S. |
$7,161Highest 130% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.3%±21.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lee and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 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 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±7.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 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 | — | #209 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Lee | — | Stowe Town School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Lee Middle/High School | — | Stowe High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.2Lowest |
— | 11.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 20 photos → | 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.