What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Rutland has the most affordable homes ($186k 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	Rutland
People
Population	5,285Lowest	15,712Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+21.1%Highest VT: +2.8%	-4.2%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	46.3±7.6Lowest 7% above VT	49±2.1Highest 14% above VT
	Rutland 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%	15.5%±2.4Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Stowe and Rutland 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%	26.2%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4%
	Rutland 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%	33.4%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7%	2.2%±0.8Highest VT: 7%
	Rutland 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	$57,675±$8kLowest 29% below VT
	Stowe and Rutland 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	$185,500±$16kLowest 41% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT	$995±$65Lowest 19% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,161Highest 42% above VT	$4,657Lowest 8% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	24.5%±15.9Lowest VT: 48.4%	51.6%±8.2Highest VT: 48.4%
Below poverty line	9.9%Lowest VT: 10.1%	15.3%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.6%Highest VT: 73.2%	54.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT	1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minHighest 18% below VT	16 minLowest 32% below VT
Work from home	24.4%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9%	8.1%±2.6Lowest VT: 16.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#51 of 70 in VT
School district	Stowe Town School District	Rutland City School District
High school in town	Stowe High School	Rutland Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3Lowest	12.3Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.