Compare towns
Stowe vs Bennington vs Richmond
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%).
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($213k median).
Richmond has the highest household income ($108k).
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 | Bennington | Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,285 |
15,249Highest |
4,159Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.3±7.6Highest 7% above VT |
44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
43.7±5.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Stowe and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.5%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Stowe and Richmond 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% |
25.2%±2.8 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Stowe and Bennington 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% |
36.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
59.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Bennington and Richmond 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 |
$59,446±$7kLowest 27% below VT |
$108,235±$24kHighest 33% above VT |
| Richmond and Stowe 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 |
$213,300±$15kLowest 33% below VT |
$432,200±$39k 37% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT |
$1,133±$63Lowest 8% below VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,161Highest 42% above VT |
$4,513Lowest 10% below VT |
$6,868 36% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.5%±15.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.5%±15.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 9.9% VT: 10.1% |
13.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6% VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
78.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1961Lowest 15 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 18% below VT |
17 minLowest 27% below VT |
25 minHighest 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 24.4%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Stowe and Richmond 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 | — | #58 of 70 in VT | #5 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Stowe Town School District | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | Stowe High School | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
14.7Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.