Compare towns

Worcester vs Waterbury vs Windham

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).
Waterbury has the most expensive homes ($447k median).
Windham has the shortest commute (27 min average).

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.

MeasureWorcesterWaterburyWindham
People
Population
831
5,405Highest
594Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+5.3%Highest
VT: +2.8%
—
Median age
47±2.7Highest
9% above VT
43.2±3.7Lowest
about the VT average
44.2±7.4
about the VT average
Worcester and Windham 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%
21.9%±4.9Highest
VT: 17.9%
17.5%±7.9
VT: 17.9%
Waterbury 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
VT: 21.4%
19.8%±4.4
VT: 21.4%
23.2%±8.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
Windham and Waterbury 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%
54.2%Highest
VT: 43.8%
48.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.9%±4.7Highest
VT: 7%
3.4%±2.8
VT: 7%
0.8%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
Worcester and Waterbury 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
$103,917±$23kHighest
28% above VT
$94,500±$12k
16% above VT
Waterbury and Windham 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
$447,200±$40kHighest
41% above VT
$353,900±$20k
12% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,023±$136Lowest
17% below VT
$1,027±$535Highest
17% below VT
—
Waterbury and Worcester 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
$6,435Highest
28% above VT
$5,951
18% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
25.5%±37Lowest
VT: 48.4%
46.8%±21.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
41.2%±94
VT: 48.4%
Waterbury 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
VT: 10.1%
7.9%
VT: 10.1%
9.9%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
70.6%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
82.9%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Lowest
same as VT
1983Highest
7 yrs newer than VT
1982
6 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
22% above VT
30 minHighest
28% above VT
27 minLowest
14% above VT
Work from home
23.6%±4.8
VT: 16.9%
28.3%±6.8Highest
VT: 16.9%
20.5%±5.6Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Waterbury 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 — #20 of 70 in VT —
School district Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Harwood Unified Union School District #60 —
High school in town None in town None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.