What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stowe has the most expensive homes ($648k median).

Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k 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	Thompson
People
Population	5,285Lowest	9,337Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+21.1% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	46.3±7.6Lowest 19% above U.S.	54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S.
	Thompson 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 U.S.: 22%	11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	25.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	24.4%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Stowe and Thompson 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%	21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	2.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Thompson and Stowe 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.	$93,629±$18kHighest 16% above U.S.
	Thompson 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.	$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,458±$242Highest 3% above U.S.	$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S.
	Stowe and Thompson 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.	$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Thompson 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%	5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 27% below U.S.	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	24.4%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Stowe and Thompson 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	—	#130 of 149 in CT
School district	Stowe Town School District	Thompson School District
High school in town	Stowe High School	Tourtellotte Memorial High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3Highest	7.9Lowest
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.