Compare towns
Orange vs Stowe vs Williston vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stowe has the most expensive homes ($648k median).
Williston has the highest household income ($107k).
Washington has the most homeowners (94.4%).
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 | Orange | Stowe | Williston | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 957Lowest |
5,285 |
10,144Highest |
1,056 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2% VT: +2.8% |
-0.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.3±5.3 17% above VT |
46.3±7.6 7% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% above VT |
52.9±5.1Highest 23% above VT |
| Washington and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Stowe and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Stowe and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
31% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.7%±2 VT: 7% |
| Williston and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,302±$13k 12% below VT |
$93,618±$33k 15% above VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$66,103±$8kLowest 19% below VT |
| Williston and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $222,000±$22k 30% below VT |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
$475,800±$40k 50% above VT |
$217,700±$37kLowest 31% below VT |
| Stowe and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,330±$153 8% above VT |
$1,458±$242 18% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$996±$285Lowest 19% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,545 30% below VT |
$7,161Highest 42% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$3,485Lowest 31% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
34.5%±63.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Williston and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.6% VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
3.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% VT: 73.2% |
78.6% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 19% above VT |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Stowe and Williston 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 | — |
| School district | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Stowe Town School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 |
| High school in town | None in town | Stowe High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.