Compare towns
Stowe vs Shelburne vs Hartford
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%).
Shelburne has the most people working from home (31.4%).
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k 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.
| Measure | Stowe | Shelburne | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,285Lowest |
7,969 |
10,736Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+8% VT: +2.8% |
+7.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.3±7.6 7% above VT |
50.9±3.2Highest 18% above VT |
43.2±3.9Lowest about the VT average |
| Shelburne 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% |
20.2%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
18%±3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Stowe and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.8%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.5%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Shelburne 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% VT: 43.8% |
70.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
47.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
4.7%±2.9 VT: 7% |
4.9%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Hartford and Shelburne 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 |
$115,963±$16kHighest 43% above VT |
$78,125±$7kLowest 4% below VT |
| Shelburne 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 |
$588,100±$44k 86% above VT |
$304,500±$26kLowest 4% below VT |
| Stowe and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT |
$1,442±$589 17% above VT |
$1,218±$118Lowest about the VT average |
| Stowe and Shelburne 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 |
$8,173Highest 62% above VT |
$5,773Lowest 15% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.5%±15.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.7%±10.6 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±12.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Hartford and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.9% VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
69.9% VT: 73.2% |
67.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 18% below VT |
20 minHighest 14% below VT |
18 minLowest 22% below VT |
| Work from home | 24.4%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
31.4%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Shelburne and Stowe 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 | — | #8 of 70 in VT | #34 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Stowe Town School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Hartford School District |
| High school in town | Stowe High School | None in town | Hartford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Highest |
— | 9.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.