Compare towns
Stowe vs Salem vs Underhill
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
Salem has the highest household income ($110k).
Underhill has the most kids (27.8% under 18).
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 | Salem | Underhill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,285 |
30,964Highest |
3,141Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.3±7.6Highest 19% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
38.1±11.4Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Stowe and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.8%±10.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Underhill and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stowe and Salem 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% |
38.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salem and Underhill 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 16% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$92,267±$54kLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Salem 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 95% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16k 42% above U.S. |
$446,000±$24kLowest 34% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$242Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S. |
— |
| Salem and Stowe 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. |
$6,992 124% above U.S. |
$6,697Lowest 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.5%±15.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±18.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salem 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.4%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±11.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stowe and Underhill 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 | — | #38 of 120 in NH | #2 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Stowe Town School District | Salem School District | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | Stowe High School | Salem High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Highest |
11.2Lowest |
— |
| 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.