Compare towns
Stowe vs Stratton vs Wardsboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stowe has the most people working from home (24.4%).
Stratton has the youngest population (median age 31.5).
Wardsboro has the most affordable homes ($299k 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 | Stratton | Wardsboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,285Highest |
532Lowest |
820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.3±7.6 7% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
51.6±7.3Highest 20% above VT |
| Wardsboro and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Stowe 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% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wardsboro 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% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
38.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8 VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Stowe and Stratton 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 |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$62,000±$6kLowest 24% below VT |
| Stratton 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 |
$400,000±$50k 26% above VT |
$299,300±$47kLowest 5% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$242 18% above VT |
$1,208±$979Lowest about the VT average |
$1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
| Wardsboro and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,161Highest 42% above VT |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$4,345Lowest 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.5%±15.9 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wardsboro 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 VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 18% below VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 24.4%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Stowe and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Stowe Town School District | — | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| High school in town | Stowe High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
— | — |
| 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.