Compare towns
Stowe vs Brattleboro vs Shelburne
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%).
Brattleboro has the most affordable homes ($257k median).
Shelburne has the most people working from home (31.4%).
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 | Brattleboro | Shelburne |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,285Lowest |
12,122Highest |
7,969 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.3±7.6 7% above VT |
45.6±4.5Lowest 6% above VT |
50.9±3.2Highest 18% 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 | 22.5%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
19%±2.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.2%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Stowe and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.8%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±4.2Highest 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+ | 66.7% VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
70.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
4.1%±1.6 VT: 7% |
4.7%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
| Shelburne and Brattleboro 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 |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below VT |
$115,963±$16kHighest 43% above VT |
| Shelburne 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 |
$257,300±$18kLowest 19% below VT |
$588,100±$44k 86% 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 | $1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT |
$1,074±$58Lowest 13% below VT |
$1,442±$589 17% 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 | $7,161 42% above VT |
$5,700Lowest 13% above VT |
$8,173Highest 62% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.5%±15.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±9.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.7%±10.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Brattleboro and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.9% VT: 10.1% |
17.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
69.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 18% below VT |
19 minLowest 19% below VT |
20 minHighest 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 24.4%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
31.4%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Shelburne 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 | — | #33 of 70 in VT | #8 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Stowe Town School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | Stowe High School | Brattleboro Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Highest |
9.0Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.