What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Reading has the most affordable homes ($377k 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	Reading
People
Population	5,285Highest	699Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+21.1%Highest VT: +2.8%	+3.2%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	46.3±7.6Lowest 7% above VT	51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT
	Reading 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%	18.5%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Stowe and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.8%±6.2Lowest VT: 21.4%	28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4%
	Reading 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 VT: 43.8%	46%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7%	3.1%±2.5Highest VT: 7%
	Reading 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 15% above VT	$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above VT
	Stowe and Reading 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	$377,200±$72kLowest 19% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT	$1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT
	Stowe and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,161Highest 42% above VT	$5,754Lowest 14% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	24.5%±15.9Lowest VT: 48.4%	63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4%
	Reading 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%	8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.6%Lowest VT: 73.2%	84.9%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT	1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 18% below VT	33 minHighest 41% above VT
Work from home	24.4%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9%	22.9%±10.6Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Stowe and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Stowe Town School District	Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76
High school in town	Stowe High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.