Compare towns

Stowe vs Surry vs Williston

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 the most expensive homes ($648k median).
Surry has the most affordable homes ($331k median).
Williston has the most renters (24.9% rent).

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.

MeasureStoweSurryWilliston
People
Population
5,285
1,052Lowest
10,144Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+21.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+12%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
46.3±7.6Highest
19% above U.S.
44.7±5.1Lowest
15% above U.S.
45.4±4.5
17% above U.S.
Stowe and Williston 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%
20.8%±6.2
U.S.: 22%
20.5%±5.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Stowe and Surry 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%
23.3%±7
U.S.: 17.2%
21%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Stowe and Surry 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%
31.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
54.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.6%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.6%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.7%±2.7
U.S.: 6.4%
Surry and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$93,618±$33kLowest
16% above U.S.
$110,125±$25kHighest
36% above U.S.
$106,967±$12k
32% above U.S.
Surry and Williston 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.
$331,400±$23kLowest
about the U.S. average
$475,800±$40k
43% above U.S.
Stowe and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,458±$242Lowest
3% above U.S.
$1,955±$374Highest
38% above U.S.
$1,832±$130
30% above U.S.
Surry and Williston 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.
$6,384
105% above U.S.
$5,592Lowest
79% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
24.5%±15.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
33.3%±74.3
U.S.: 51.1%
46.9%±17.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Williston and Surry 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%
3.1%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
78.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
91.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1993Highest
13 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
22 minHighest
17% below U.S.
20 min
25% below U.S.
Work from home
24.4%±8.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16%±7.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.3%±7.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Stowe and Williston 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 — — #11 of 70 in VT
School district Stowe Town School District — Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56
High school in town Stowe High School — None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
11.3
— —
On TownTapestry
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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.