What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Stowe	Dorset
People
Population	5,285Highest	2,092Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+21.1%Highest VT: +2.8%	+5%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	46.3±7.6Highest 7% above VT	45.9±7.5Lowest 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%±4.6Lowest 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%	21.9%±4.5Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 43.8%	72.1%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7%	2.8%±2.1Highest VT: 7%
	Dorset and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$93,618±$33kLowest 15% above 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	$569,200±$57kLowest 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	$1,420±$296Lowest 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	$7,161Lowest 42% above VT	$7,489Highest 49% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	24.5%±15.9Lowest VT: 48.4%	74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4%
Below poverty line	9.9%Lowest VT: 10.1%	11.2%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.6%Lowest VT: 73.2%	90.7%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT	1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 18% below VT	22 minHighest 8% below VT
Work from home	24.4%±8.9Lowest 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
School district	Stowe Town School District	Taconic and Green Regional School District #63
High school in town	Stowe High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.