Compare towns
Worcester vs Windsor vs Elmore 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 oldest population (median age 47).
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($170k median).
Elmore has the most homeowners (92.8%).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
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 | Windsor | Elmore | Stowe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831Lowest |
2,060 |
964 |
5,285Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.5% VT: +2.8% |
+3.6% VT: +2.8% |
+21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
44.6±12.3Lowest 3% above VT |
45±3.5 4% 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% |
21.1%±8.8 VT: 17.9% |
23.4%±9.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Elmore 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% |
29.2%±8Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.6%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Windsor 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% |
40%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
47.8% VT: 43.8% |
66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$51,197±$4kLowest 37% below VT |
$98,750±$24kHighest 22% above VT |
$93,618±$33k 15% above VT |
| Elmore and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$170,300±$22kLowest 46% below VT |
$315,800±$47k about the VT average |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$1,002±$107Lowest 19% below VT |
$1,225±$263 about the VT average |
$1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT |
| Stowe and Elmore 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 |
$4,878 3% below VT |
$5,066 about the VT average |
$7,161Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
31.4%±20 VT: 48.4% |
31.8%±65.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Elmore and Windsor 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% |
7.8% VT: 10.1% |
3.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
51.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
78.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
29 minHighest 25% above VT |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
6.6%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.3 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 | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #61 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 | 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.