Compare towns
Shelburne vs Putney vs Middlesex vs Stowe
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Shelburne has the most people working from home (31.4%).
Putney has the most affordable homes ($300k median).
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
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 | Shelburne | Putney | Middlesex | Stowe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,969Highest |
2,622 |
1,943Lowest |
5,285 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.9±3.2Highest 18% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
46.3±7.6 7% above VT |
| Shelburne and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.2%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Stowe and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Shelburne and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
66.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.9 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $115,963±$16kHighest 43% above VT |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$93,618±$33k 15% above VT |
| Shelburne and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $588,100±$44k 86% above VT |
$300,000±$44kLowest 5% below VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
| Stowe and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,442±$589 17% above VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT |
| Stowe and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,173Highest 62% above VT |
$5,313Lowest 5% above VT |
$6,483 29% above VT |
$7,161 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.7%±10.6 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.4% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
78.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 14% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
19 min 18% below VT |
| Work from home | 31.4%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Shelburne and Middlesex 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 | #8 of 70 in VT | #32 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Stowe Town School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Stowe High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.