Compare towns
Stowe vs Orange 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 the most expensive homes ($648k median).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($303k median).
Shelburne has the most people working from home (31.4%).
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 | Orange | Shelburne |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,285 |
320Lowest |
7,969Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.3±7.6 19% above U.S. |
41.3±9.1Lowest 6% above 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% |
20.6%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
20.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Stowe and Orange 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% |
20%±5Lowest 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% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,618±$33kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$118,750±$39kHighest 47% above U.S. |
$115,963±$16k 44% above U.S. |
| Orange 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±$157kHighest 95% above U.S. |
$302,600±$35kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$588,100±$44k 77% above U.S. |
| Stowe and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$242Highest 3% above U.S. |
— | $1,442±$589Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Stowe and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,161 130% above U.S. |
$5,132Lowest 65% above U.S. |
$8,173Highest 162% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.5%±15.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±10.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Shelburne 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
20 min 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.4%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.8%±8.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.4%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Shelburne 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 | — | — | #8 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Stowe Town School District | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | Stowe High School | — | 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.