Compare towns
Worcester vs Williston vs Middlesex 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).
Williston has the most renters (24.9% rent).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Williston | Middlesex | Stowe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831Lowest |
10,144Highest |
1,943 |
5,285 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
46.3±7.6 7% above VT |
| Worcester and Stowe 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% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Stowe and Middlesex 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% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Stowe and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Williston 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 |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$93,618±$33k 15% above VT |
| Middlesex and Williston 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 |
$475,800±$40k 50% above VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
| Stowe and Williston 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 |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,458±$242 18% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$6,483 29% above VT |
$7,161Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Williston 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% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
78.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 22% above VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Stowe 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Stowe Town School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Stowe High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.