Compare towns
Lyme vs Stowe vs Williston 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
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
Williston has the most affordable homes ($476k median).
Windham has the highest household income ($190k).
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 | Lyme | Stowe | Williston | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
5,285 |
10,144 |
16,038Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
46.3±7.6 19% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
66.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
$93,618±$33kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
$647,800±$157k 95% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40kLowest 43% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
| Windham and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,458±$242 3% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130 30% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,161 130% above U.S. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyme and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 21% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme and Stowe 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 | — | — | #11 of 70 in VT | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lyme School District | Stowe Town School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Windham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Stowe High School | None in town | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.