What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Townshend has the most affordable homes ($287k 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	Townshend
People
Population	5,285Highest	1,538Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+21.1%Highest VT: +2.8%	+4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	46.3±7.6Lowest 7% above VT	55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT
	Townshend 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%	12%±2.6Lowest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	25.8%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4%	19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Stowe and Townshend 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%	52.1%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.6%±1.6Highest VT: 7%	1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7%
	Stowe and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$93,618±$33kHighest 15% above VT	$78,750±$29kLowest 3% below VT
	Stowe and Townshend 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	$287,200±$79kLowest 9% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT	$1,074±$80Lowest 13% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,161Highest 42% above VT	$5,364Lowest 6% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	24.5%±15.9Lowest VT: 48.4%	72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4%
Below poverty line	9.9%Highest VT: 10.1%	8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.6%Lowest VT: 73.2%	82.6%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982 6 yrs newer than VT	1982 6 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 18% below VT	25 minHighest 6% above VT
Work from home	24.4%±8.9Lowest VT: 16.9%	28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9%
	Townshend and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Stowe Town School District	West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A
High school in town	Stowe High School	Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3Highest	8.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.