Compare towns
Richmond vs Windham vs Dorset vs Stowe
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Richmond has the most affordable homes ($432k median).
Windham has the highest household income ($190k).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
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.
| Measure | Richmond | Windham | Dorset | Stowe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,159 |
16,038Highest |
2,092Lowest |
5,285 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±5.6 12% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
46.3±7.6Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Stowe and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.5%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stowe and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
66.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windham and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,235±$24k 34% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40k 38% above U.S. |
$93,618±$33kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,200±$39kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57k 71% above U.S. |
$647,800±$157k 95% 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 | — | $3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,420±$296Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,458±$242 3% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,868Lowest 120% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,489 140% above U.S. |
$7,161 130% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.5%±15.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
22 min 18% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.5%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset 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 | #5 of 70 in VT | #13 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Windham School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Stowe Town School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town | Stowe High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
— | 11.3Lowest |
| 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.