Compare towns
Bow vs Stowe vs Williston vs Dunbarton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
Williston has the most renters (24.9% rent).
Dunbarton has the most homeowners (95.1%).
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 | Bow | Stowe | Williston | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335 |
5,285 |
10,144Highest |
3,097Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
46.3±7.6 19% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
48±3.7Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Dunbarton and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 60.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
66.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$93,618±$33kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$124,348±$21k 54% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
$647,800±$157kHighest 95% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40kLowest 43% above U.S. |
$484,100±$33k 46% above U.S. |
| Stowe and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,458±$242 3% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,166±$70Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Williston and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$7,161 130% above U.S. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$8,233 164% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.7%±60.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dunbarton and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1990 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stowe and Bow 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 | #26 of 120 in NH | — | #11 of 70 in VT | #33 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Stowe Town School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Dunbarton School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | Stowe High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
11.3Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.