Compare towns
Worcester vs Lyme 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).
Lyme has the highest household income ($134k).
Windham has the youngest population (median age 44.2).
Stowe has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
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 | Lyme | Windham | Stowe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831 |
1,710 |
594Lowest |
5,285Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
46.3±7.6 19% above U.S. |
| Lyme 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% |
19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Stowe and Lyme 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% |
26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme 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% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
66.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Lyme 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. |
$133,906±$15kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$93,618±$33k 16% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$647,800±$157kHighest 95% above U.S. |
| Stowe and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
— | $1,458±$242Highest 3% above U.S. |
| Stowe and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,951 91% above U.S. |
$7,161 130% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyme and Windham 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% |
4.4%Lowest 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% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% 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. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme 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 | Lyme School District | — | 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 |
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.