Compare towns

Lowell vs Stratton vs Wardsboro

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lowell has the most affordable homes ($183k median).
Stratton has the highest household income ($123k).
Wardsboro has the most people working from home (13.3%).

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.

MeasureLowellStrattonWardsboro
People
Population
1,070Highest
532Lowest
820
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.9%Highest
VT: +2.8%
—
-3.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
32.9±6.5
24% below VT
31.5±4.1Lowest
27% below VT
51.6±7.3Highest
20% above VT
Kids under 18
30.7%±6.2Highest
VT: 17.9%
28%±7.4
VT: 17.9%
18.8%±6.5Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Lowell and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
12.3%±4.1
VT: 21.4%
11.7%±4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
27.4%±3.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
19.2%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
33.2%
VT: 43.8%
38.9%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±1.9Highest
VT: 7%
1.3%±2.8
VT: 7%
0.9%±0.9Lowest
VT: 7%
Lowell and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$57,404±$15kLowest
29% below VT
$122,708±$33kHighest
51% above VT
$62,000±$6k
24% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$183,400±$33kLowest
42% below VT
$400,000±$50kHighest
26% above VT
$299,300±$47k
5% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$945±$46Lowest
23% below VT
$1,208±$979
about the VT average
$1,479±$224Highest
20% above VT
Wardsboro and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,810Lowest
44% below VT
$4,750Highest
6% below VT
$4,345
14% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
26.3%±92.9
VT: 48.4%
12%±69.8Lowest
VT: 48.4%
54.5%±58Highest
VT: 48.4%
Wardsboro and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9.6%Highest
VT: 10.1%
0%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
7.7%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.1%Highest
VT: 73.2%
73.3%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
90.4%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984
8 yrs newer than VT
1988Highest
12 yrs newer than VT
1978Lowest
2 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
55 minHighest
135% above VT
33 min
39% above VT
27 minLowest
14% above VT
Work from home
7.5%±2.3
VT: 16.9%
3.3%±3.5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
13.3%±5.1Highest
VT: 16.9%
Wardsboro and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Lowell School District — River Valleys Unified School District #73
High school in town None in town — None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.