What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).

Orford has the most affordable homes ($272k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Stowe	Orford
People
Population	5,285Highest	1,295Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	46.3±7.6Lowest 19% above U.S.	48.9±3.3Highest 26% above U.S.
	Orford 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%	12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	25.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	25.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Stowe and Orford 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%	44%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Orford and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$93,618±$33kHighest 16% above U.S.	$92,571±$24kLowest 15% above U.S.
	Stowe and Orford 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.	$271,900±$25kLowest 18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,458±$242Highest 3% above U.S.	$1,263±$686Lowest 11% below U.S.
	Stowe and Orford 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.	$5,836Lowest 87% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	37.8%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Orford 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%	5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	75.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 27% below U.S.	26 minHighest 3% below U.S.
Work from home	24.4%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Stowe and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Stowe Town School District	Rivendell Interstate School District
High school in town	Stowe High School	Rivendell Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3Highest	9.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.