Compare towns
Stowe vs Waterbury vs Shelburne
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
Waterbury has the most affordable homes ($447k median).
Shelburne has the highest household income ($116k).
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 | Waterbury | Shelburne |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,285Lowest |
5,405 |
7,969Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.3±7.6 7% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
50.9±3.2Highest 18% above VT |
| Shelburne 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% |
21.9%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
20.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| 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 VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Shelburne 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% VT: 43.8% |
54.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
70.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.8 VT: 7% |
4.7%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
| Shelburne and Waterbury 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 15% above VT |
$103,917±$23k 28% above VT |
$115,963±$16kHighest 43% above VT |
| Shelburne and Waterbury 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 |
$447,200±$40kLowest 41% above VT |
$588,100±$44k 86% above VT |
| Stowe and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT |
$1,027±$535Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,442±$589 17% above VT |
| Stowe and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,161 42% above VT |
$6,435Lowest 28% above VT |
$8,173Highest 62% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.5%±15.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.8%±21.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.7%±10.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Waterbury and Shelburne 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% |
7.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
70.6% VT: 73.2% |
69.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 18% below VT |
30 minHighest 28% above VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 24.4%±8.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.3%±6.8 VT: 16.9% |
31.4%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Shelburne and Waterbury 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 | #8 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Stowe Town School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| 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 Our Story | 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.