What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bristol has the most affordable homes ($337k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bristol	Stowe
People
Population	3,778Lowest	5,285Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+21.1%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	47.9±4.8Highest 11% above VT	46.3±7.6Lowest 7% above VT
	Bristol and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9%	22.5%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	21.9%±4.8Lowest VT: 21.4%	25.8%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4%
	Stowe and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.9%Lowest VT: 43.8%	66.7%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±3.2Highest VT: 7%	1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7%
	Bristol and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,620±$8kLowest 8% below VT	$93,618±$33kHighest 15% above VT
	Stowe and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$337,300±$46kLowest 7% above VT	$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,275±$181Lowest 3% above VT	$1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT
	Stowe and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,978Lowest 19% above VT	$7,161Highest 42% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.9%±14.4Highest VT: 48.4%	24.5%±15.9Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Bristol and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.1%Highest VT: 10.1%	9.9%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2%	78.6%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest same as VT	1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 5% above VT	19 minLowest 18% below VT
Work from home	17.9%±6.1Lowest VT: 16.9%	24.4%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9%
	Stowe and Bristol 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	#31 of 70 in VT	—
School district	Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61	Stowe Town School District
High school in town	Mt. Abraham Union High School	Stowe High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Highest	11.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.