What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k 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	Hartford	Stowe
People
Population	10,736Highest	5,285Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.4%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+21.1%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	43.2±3.9Lowest about the VT average	46.3±7.6Highest 7% above VT
	Stowe and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18%±3Lowest VT: 17.9%	22.5%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9%
	Stowe and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.5%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4%	25.8%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4%
	Stowe and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.6%Lowest VT: 43.8%	66.7%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1.7Highest VT: 7%	1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7%
	Hartford and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,125±$7kLowest 4% below VT	$93,618±$33kHighest 15% above VT
	Stowe and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$304,500±$26kLowest 4% below VT	$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,218±$118Lowest about the VT average	$1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT
	Stowe and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,773Lowest 15% above VT	$7,161Highest 42% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.6%±12.7Highest VT: 48.4%	24.5%±15.9Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Hartford and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.1%Highest VT: 10.1%	9.9%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.8%Lowest VT: 73.2%	78.6%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT	1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 22% below VT	19 minHighest 18% below VT
Work from home	13.9%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9%	24.4%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9%
	Stowe and Hartford 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	#34 of 70 in VT	—
School district	Hartford School District	Stowe Town School District
High school in town	Hartford High School	Stowe High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.6Lowest	11.3Highest
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.