Compare towns
Stowe vs Dorset vs Waterbury
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%).
Dorset has the most homeowners (90.7%).
Waterbury has the most affordable homes ($447k 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.
| Measure | Stowe | Dorset | Waterbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,285 |
2,092Lowest |
5,405Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.3±7.6Highest 7% above VT |
45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
| 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% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.9%±4.9Lowest 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%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±4.4Lowest 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% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Waterbury and Dorset 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 |
$103,917±$23k 28% above VT |
| Dorset and Waterbury 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±$57k 80% above VT |
$447,200±$40kLowest 41% 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±$296 15% above VT |
$1,027±$535Lowest 17% below 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 |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$6,435Lowest 28% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.5%±15.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.8%±21.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Waterbury 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% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
70.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 18% below VT |
22 min 8% below VT |
30 minHighest 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 24.4%±8.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
28.3%±6.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Waterbury 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 | — | — | #20 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Stowe Town School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| 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 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.