Compare towns
Stowe vs Castleton vs Dorset
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%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
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 | Castleton | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,285Highest |
4,453 |
2,092Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.3±7.6Highest 7% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
| Stowe and Dorset 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% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Stowe 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% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Stowe and Dorset 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% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,618±$33k 15% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
| Dorset 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 |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$569,200±$57k 80% above VT |
| Stowe and Dorset 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 |
$1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,420±$296 15% above VT |
| Stowe and Dorset 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 |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.5%±15.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 18% below VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
22 minHighest 8% below VT |
| Work from home | 24.4%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Stowe Town School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | Stowe High School | 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 |
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.