Compare towns
Stowe vs Unity vs Waterbury
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
Unity has the most affordable homes ($276k median).
Waterbury has the most people working from home (28.3%).
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 | Unity | Waterbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,285 |
1,375Lowest |
5,405Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.3±7.6 19% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Unity 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% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Stowe and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Waterbury 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±$33k 16% above U.S. |
$87,500±$16kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$103,917±$23kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Waterbury 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. |
$276,100±$29kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$447,200±$40k 34% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$242 3% above U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,027±$535Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Unity and Stowe 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. |
$5,394Lowest 73% above U.S. |
$6,435 106% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.8%±21.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Waterbury and Unity 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% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.4%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.3%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waterbury and Stowe 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 | — | — | #20 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Stowe Town School District | Unity School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | Stowe High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 4 photos → | 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.