What stands out worked out from the figures below

Nelson has the most affordable homes ($341k 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	Nelson	Stowe
People
Population	648Lowest	5,285Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S.	46.3±7.6Highest 19% above U.S.
	Stowe and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22%	22.5%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Nelson and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	25.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Stowe and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	61.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	66.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	1.6%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Stowe and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$99,792±$23kHighest 24% above U.S.	$93,618±$33kLowest 16% above U.S.
	Nelson and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average	$647,800±$157kHighest 95% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S.	$1,458±$242Highest 3% above U.S.
	Stowe and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,575Lowest 79% above U.S.	$7,161Highest 130% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40%±68.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Nelson and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	78.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 8% below U.S.	19 minLowest 27% below U.S.
Work from home	31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	24.4%±8.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Nelson and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Nelson School District	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 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.