Compare towns
Stowe vs Barnard vs Middlesex vs Underhill
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
Barnard has the oldest housing (typical home built 1971).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Underhill has the youngest population (median age 38.1).
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 | Stowe | Barnard | Middlesex | Underhill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,285Highest |
1,211Lowest |
1,943 |
3,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.3±7.6Highest 7% above VT |
42.4±6 about the VT average |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
38.1±11.4Lowest 12% below VT |
| Stowe and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
27.8%±10.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Underhill and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.8%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
17.6%±6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Stowe and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
55.3% VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
50.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.5%±2 VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Underhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $93,618±$33k 15% above VT |
$97,581±$19k 20% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$92,267±$54kLowest 14% above VT |
| Middlesex and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
$402,600±$71k 27% above VT |
$376,300±$40kLowest 19% above VT |
$446,000±$24k 41% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT |
$1,372±$80 11% above VT |
$1,333±$359Lowest 8% above VT |
— |
| Stowe and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,161Highest 42% above VT |
$6,038Lowest 20% above VT |
$6,483 29% above VT |
$6,697 33% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.5%±15.9 VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
0%±18.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Barnard and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
3.8% VT: 10.1% |
6.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.4% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 18% below VT |
29 min 21% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
| Work from home | 24.4%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.4%±11.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | — | — | #2 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Stowe Town School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | Stowe High School | None in town | 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.