What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Standish has the most affordable homes ($336k 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	Standish
People
Population	5,285Lowest	10,662Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	46.3±7.6Highest 19% above U.S.	40.5±2.8Lowest 4% above U.S.
	Stowe and Standish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22%	16.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Stowe and Standish 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%	15.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	66.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	36%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	11.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$93,618±$33kLowest 16% above U.S.	$104,593±$15kHighest 30% above U.S.
	Standish 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.	$336,000±$18kLowest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,458±$242Highest 3% above U.S.	$983±$453Lowest 30% below U.S.
	Stowe and Standish 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.	$3,005Lowest 4% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	57.4%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Standish 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%	7.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	91.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1980Lowest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 27% below U.S.	29 minHighest 11% above U.S.
Work from home	24.4%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Stowe and Standish 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	—	#18 of 133 in ME
School district	Stowe Town School District	RSU 06/MSAD 06
High school in town	Stowe High School	Bonny Eagle High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3Lowest	12.5Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.