Compare towns
Stowe vs Middlesex vs Williston vs Underhill
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stowe has the most expensive homes ($648k median).
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
Williston has the most renters (24.9% rent).
Underhill has the most kids (27.8% under 18).
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 | Middlesex | Williston | Underhill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,285 |
1,943Lowest |
10,144Highest |
3,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2% VT: +2.8% |
+3.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.3±7.6Highest 7% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
38.1±11.4Lowest 12% below VT |
| Stowe and Williston 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% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
27.8%±10.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Underhill 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% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
17.6%±6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Stowe and Williston 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% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
50.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.5%±2 VT: 7% |
| Williston and Middlesex 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 15% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$92,267±$54kLowest 14% above VT |
| Middlesex and Williston 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 |
$376,300±$40kLowest 19% above VT |
$475,800±$40k 50% above VT |
$446,000±$24k 41% above VT |
| Stowe and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$242 18% above VT |
$1,333±$359Lowest 8% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,161Highest 42% above VT |
$6,483 29% above VT |
$5,592Lowest 11% above VT |
$6,697 33% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.5%±15.9 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±18.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Williston and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
6.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 18% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
| Work from home | 24.4%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
19.4%±11.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Stowe 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 | — | — | #11 of 70 in VT | #2 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Stowe Town School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | Stowe High School | None in town | 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 | 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.