Compare towns
Worcester vs Wheelock vs Waterville
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 expensive homes ($271k median).
Wheelock has the most affordable homes ($190k median).
Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
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 | Wheelock | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 831Highest |
717 |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7Lowest 9% above VT |
51±5.6Highest 18% above VT |
49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
| Wheelock and Waterville 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% |
18.8%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Waterville and Wheelock 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% |
29.4%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.9% VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18kHighest 9% below VT |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below VT |
$71,250±$27k 12% below VT |
| Worcester and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27kHighest 14% below VT |
$189,600±$37kLowest 40% below VT |
$236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
| Worcester and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
— | $1,110±$93Highest 10% below VT |
| Waterville and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421Highest 12% below VT |
$2,937Lowest 42% below VT |
$3,957 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Waterville 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% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
28 minLowest 17% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16 VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Wheelock 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 | — | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.