What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).

Vernon has the shortest commute (20 min average).

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	Lowell	Vernon
People
Population	1,070Lowest	2,709Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.9%Highest VT: +2.8%	-0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	32.9±6.5Lowest 24% below VT	42.6±5.4Highest about the VT average
	Vernon and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9%	15.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4%	22.8%±2.1Highest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	19.2%Lowest VT: 43.8%	26.6%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.9Lowest VT: 7%	3%±1.7Highest VT: 7%
	Vernon and Lowell 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	$85,682±$9kHighest 6% above VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$183,400±$33kLowest 42% below VT	$285,100±$25kHighest 10% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$945±$46Lowest 23% below VT	$1,023±$214Highest 17% below VT
	Vernon and Lowell 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	$5,191Highest 3% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	26.3%±92.9Highest VT: 48.4%	26.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Lowell and Vernon 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%	5.5%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.1%Highest VT: 73.2%	76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT	1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	55 minHighest 135% above VT	20 minLowest 14% below VT
Work from home	7.5%±2.3Highest VT: 16.9%	6.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Lowell and Vernon 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	—	#30 of 70 in VT
School district	Lowell School District	Vernon School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.