Compare towns
Stowe vs Manchester vs Richmond
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%).
Manchester has the shortest commute (14 min average).
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 | Manchester | Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,285Highest |
4,486 |
4,159Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.3±7.6 7% above VT |
54.5±6.3Highest 26% above VT |
43.7±5.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Manchester 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 VT: 17.9% |
16.9%±4.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.5%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Stowe and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.8%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Stowe and Manchester 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 VT: 43.8% |
47.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
59.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±3Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Manchester 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±$33kLowest 15% above VT |
$94,886±$23k 17% above VT |
$108,235±$24kHighest 33% above VT |
| Richmond and Manchester 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 |
$454,600±$47k 44% above VT |
$432,200±$39kLowest 37% above VT |
| Stowe and Manchester 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 |
$1,057±$76Lowest 14% below VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,161Highest 42% above VT |
$5,923Lowest 18% above VT |
$6,868 36% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.5%±15.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
56.5%±13.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.5%±15.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Manchester and Richmond 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% |
16.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6% VT: 73.2% |
73.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
78.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1981Lowest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 18% below VT |
14 minLowest 39% below VT |
25 minHighest 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 24.4%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±6.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Stowe and Manchester 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 | — | #37 of 70 in VT | #5 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Stowe Town School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | 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 |
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.