Compare towns
Worcester vs Stratton vs Salisbury vs Stowe
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Stratton has the youngest population (median age 31.5).
Salisbury has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
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 | Stratton | Salisbury | Stowe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831 |
532Lowest |
1,200 |
5,285Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +7.5% VT: +2.8% |
+21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
50.6±6.5Highest 17% above VT |
46.3±7.6 7% above VT |
| Salisbury 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 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton 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 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±2.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Salisbury 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% VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.1 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Salisbury 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 VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$99,688±$21k 23% above VT |
$93,618±$33k 15% above VT |
| Stratton and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$400,000±$50k 26% above VT |
$306,900±$51k 3% below VT |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,208±$979 about the VT average |
$1,443±$984 17% above VT |
$1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT |
| Stowe and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$4,842 4% below VT |
$7,161Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
31.9%±22.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Salisbury and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.9% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.6% VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
78.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
19 minLowest 20% below VT |
19 min 18% below VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.2 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | 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 |
VT 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.