Compare towns
Gray vs Stowe vs Castleton vs Windham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Windham has the highest household income ($108k).
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 | Gray | Stowe | Castleton | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,429 |
5,285 |
4,453Lowest |
19,188Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.5 12% above U.S. |
46.3±7.6Highest 19% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
| Stowe and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Stowe and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stowe and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
66.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,236±$8k 18% above U.S. |
$93,618±$33k 16% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$107,934±$14kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Windham and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,700±$20k 9% above U.S. |
$647,800±$157kHighest 95% above U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$388,900±$22k 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,371±$89 about the U.S. average |
$1,458±$242Highest 3% above U.S. |
$1,137±$195Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,232±$332 13% below U.S. |
| Stowe and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,683 18% above U.S. |
$7,161Highest 130% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,938 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±24 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stowe and Windham 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 | #10 of 133 in ME | — | #39 of 70 in VT | #95 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Stowe Town School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | RSU 14 |
| High school in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | Stowe High School | None in town | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5Highest |
11.3Lowest |
— | 12.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.