What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lenox has the most affordable homes ($162k 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	Lenox	Stowe
People
Population	8,658Highest	5,285Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.1±2Lowest 16% above U.S.	46.3±7.6Highest 19% above U.S.
	Stowe and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.7%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Stowe and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.9%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	25.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Stowe and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	66.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Lenox and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$75,900±$8kLowest 6% below U.S.	$93,618±$33kHighest 16% above U.S.
	Stowe and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$161,600±$9kLowest 51% below U.S.	$647,800±$157kHighest 95% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$935±$83Lowest 34% below U.S.	$1,458±$242Highest 3% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,184Lowest 34% above U.S.	$7,161Highest 130% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.5%±9.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lenox and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	9.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	78.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 7% below U.S.	19 minLowest 27% below U.S.
Work from home	8%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	24.4%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#412 of 484 in NY	—
School district	ONEIDA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT · CANASTOTA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	Stowe Town School District
High school in town	CANASTOTA HIGH SCHOOL	Stowe High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.6Highest	11.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.