Compare towns

Stowe vs Bedford vs Underhill

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
Bedford has the highest household income ($167k).
Underhill has the most affordable homes ($446k median).

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.

MeasureStoweBedfordUnderhill
People
Population
5,285
23,746Highest
3,141Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+21.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10%
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
46.3±7.6Highest
19% above U.S.
45±2.2
16% above U.S.
38.1±11.4Lowest
about the U.S. average
Stowe and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.5%±4.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.7%±2.5
U.S.: 22%
27.8%±10.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
Underhill and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
25.8%±6.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.5%±2.1
U.S.: 17.2%
17.6%±6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Stowe and Bedford 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
U.S.: 35.7%
63%
U.S.: 35.7%
50.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.6%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.7%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.5%±2
U.S.: 6.4%
Bedford 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
16% above U.S.
$167,418±$12kHighest
107% above U.S.
$92,267±$54kLowest
14% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$647,800±$157kHighest
95% above U.S.
$612,100±$26k
84% above U.S.
$446,000±$24kLowest
34% above U.S.
Stowe and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,458±$242Lowest
3% above U.S.
$2,099±$274Highest
49% above U.S.
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,161
130% above U.S.
$9,803Highest
214% above U.S.
$6,697Lowest
115% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
24.5%±15.9
U.S.: 51.1%
59.4%±15.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±18.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line
9.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
78.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1990Highest
10 yrs newer than U.S.
1979Lowest
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
25 min
4% below U.S.
33 minHighest
24% above U.S.
Work from home
24.4%±8.9
U.S.: 15.1%
27%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.4%±11.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Bedford 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 — #7 of 120 in NH #2 of 70 in VT
School district Stowe Town School District Bedford School District Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401
High school in town Stowe High School Bedford High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
11.3Lowest
13.5Highest
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On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.