Compare towns
Manchester vs Stowe vs Sandgate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Manchester has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Stowe has the most expensive homes ($648k median).
Sandgate has the most affordable homes ($194k median).
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 | Manchester | Stowe | Sandgate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,486 |
5,285Highest |
435Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 54.5±6.3 26% above VT |
46.3±7.6Lowest 7% above VT |
55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
| Sandgate and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±7.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Stowe and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
26%±11.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Sandgate and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.4% VT: 43.8% |
66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3Highest VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Manchester and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,886±$23kHighest 17% above VT |
$93,618±$33k 15% above VT |
$69,167±$19kLowest 15% below VT |
| Manchester and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $454,600±$47k 44% above VT |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
$193,800±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
| Stowe and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,057±$76Lowest 14% below VT |
$1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,923 18% above VT |
$7,161Highest 42% above VT |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.5%±13.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 16.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
9.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
78.6% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 39% below VT |
19 min 18% below VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.1%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate 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 | #37 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Stowe Town School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Stowe High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.