What stands out worked out from the figures below

Oakham has the most affordable homes ($420k 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	Oakham	Stowe
People
Population	1,639Lowest	5,285Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49±2.3Highest 26% above U.S.	46.3±7.6Lowest 19% above U.S.
	Oakham and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.2%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Stowe and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	25.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Stowe and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	66.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Oakham and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$102,000±$20kHighest 26% above U.S.	$93,618±$33kLowest 16% above U.S.
	Oakham and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$420,100±$20kLowest 26% above U.S.	$647,800±$157kHighest 95% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,174±$81Lowest 17% below U.S.	$1,458±$242Highest 3% above U.S.
	Stowe and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,103Lowest 32% above U.S.	$7,161Highest 130% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.8%±69.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Oakham and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	78.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	39 minHighest 46% above U.S.	19 minLowest 27% below U.S.
Work from home	9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	24.4%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
School district	Quabbin	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.