Compare towns
Stowe vs Hartford vs Hanover vs Shelburne
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k median).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
Shelburne has the most people working from home (31.4%).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hartford | Hanover | Shelburne |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,285Lowest |
10,736Highest |
8,479 |
7,969 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.3±7.6 19% above U.S. |
43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
21.8±0.3Lowest 44% below U.S. |
50.9±3.2Highest 31% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.2%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
89.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
49.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $93,618±$33k 16% above U.S. |
$78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$153,281±$26kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$115,963±$16k 44% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $647,800±$157k 95% above U.S. |
$304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$842,600±$97kHighest 153% above U.S. |
$588,100±$44k 77% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$242 3% above U.S. |
$1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$2,254±$249Highest 60% above U.S. |
$1,442±$589 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,161 130% above U.S. |
$5,773Lowest 85% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,173 162% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±10.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
20 minHighest 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.4%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.4%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Shelburne and Hanover 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 | — | #34 of 70 in VT | #1 of 120 in NH | #8 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Stowe Town School District | Hartford School District | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | Stowe High School | Hartford High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Highest |
9.6Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.