Compare towns
Essex vs Mapleton vs Stowe
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Essex has the highest household income ($110k).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k 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.
| Measure | Essex | Mapleton | Stowe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,516Highest |
1,884Lowest |
5,285 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±1.9 9% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
46.3±7.6Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Stowe and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Stowe and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stowe and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
66.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,199±$14kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$93,618±$33k 16% above U.S. |
| Essex and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $447,300±$14k 34% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$647,800±$157kHighest 95% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,569±$138Highest 11% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,458±$242 3% above U.S. |
| Essex and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,602 112% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$7,161Highest 130% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.9%±13.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.5%±15.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Essex and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.5%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stowe and Essex 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 | #13 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | 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 |
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.