Compare towns
Stowe vs Lancaster vs Richmond
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%).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
Richmond has the highest household income ($108k).
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 | Lancaster | Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,285Highest |
3,216Lowest |
4,159 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.3±7.6Highest 19% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9 17% above U.S. |
43.7±5.6Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Stowe and Lancaster 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% |
20.9%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Stowe and Richmond 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% |
28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lancaster and Richmond 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 16% above U.S. |
$68,911±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$108,235±$24kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Richmond 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 95% above U.S. |
$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$432,200±$39k 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$242Highest 3% above U.S. |
$1,019±$263Lowest 28% below U.S. |
— |
| Stowe and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,161Highest 130% above U.S. |
$4,226Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$6,868 120% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
28.5%±15.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Richmond 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% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.4%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stowe and Richmond 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 | — | #107 of 120 in NH | #5 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Stowe Town School District | White Mountains Regional School District | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| 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 |
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.