Compare towns
Stowe vs Reading vs Hinesburg
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%).
Reading has the most affordable homes ($377k median).
Hinesburg has the highest household income ($113k).
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 | Reading | Hinesburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,285Highest |
699Lowest |
4,718 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+6.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.3±7.6Lowest 7% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
50.1±5.2 16% above VT |
| Reading and Hinesburg 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%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
18%±5.3Lowest 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% |
25.8%±7.3Lowest 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% |
64.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1.6 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1Lowest 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±$33k 15% above VT |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above VT |
$112,539±$18kHighest 39% above VT |
| Hinesburg and Stowe 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 |
$463,400±$51k 46% above VT |
| Stowe and Hinesburg 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 |
$1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,651±$155Highest 34% above VT |
| Hinesburg and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,161 42% above VT |
$5,754Lowest 14% above VT |
$7,667Highest 52% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.5%±15.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.2%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Hinesburg 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% |
8.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
83.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 18% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
20 min 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 24.4%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
19.6%±6.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Stowe and Reading 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 | — | — | #4 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Stowe Town School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | Stowe High School | None in town | Champlain Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
— | 14.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.