Compare towns

Stowe vs Westminster vs Williston

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stowe has the most expensive homes ($648k median).
Westminster has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Williston has the highest household income ($107k).

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.

MeasureStoweWestminsterWilliston
People
Population
5,285
2,999Lowest
10,144Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+21.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-5.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+16.2%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
46.3±7.6
7% above VT
53.5±3.7Highest
24% above VT
45.4±4.5Lowest
5% above VT
Westminster 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%
18.2%±4.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
20.5%±5.2
VT: 17.9%
Stowe and Williston 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%
27.6%±6.8Highest
VT: 21.4%
21%±3.5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Westminster 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
VT: 43.8%
46.3%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
54.9%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.6%±1.6Lowest
VT: 7%
4.4%±3.1
VT: 7%
5.7%±2.7Highest
VT: 7%
Williston and Westminster 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
15% above VT
$71,491±$4kLowest
12% below VT
$106,967±$12kHighest
32% above VT
Williston 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
105% above VT
$273,800±$35kLowest
14% below VT
$475,800±$40k
50% above VT
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±$242
18% above VT
$916±$126Lowest
26% below VT
$1,832±$130Highest
48% above VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,161Highest
42% above VT
$4,063Lowest
19% below VT
$5,592
11% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
24.5%±15.9Lowest
VT: 48.4%
49.2%±7.5Highest
VT: 48.4%
46.9%±17.4
VT: 48.4%
Westminster and Williston 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%
8.8%
VT: 10.1%
4.3%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
78.6%
VT: 73.2%
88.2%Highest
VT: 73.2%
75.1%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
6 yrs newer than VT
1980Lowest
4 yrs newer than VT
1993Highest
17 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
18% below VT
24 minHighest
about the VT average
20 min
16% below VT
Work from home
24.4%±8.9
VT: 16.9%
27%±6.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
22.3%±7.6Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Westminster 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 — #53 of 70 in VT #11 of 70 in VT
School district Stowe Town School District Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56
High school in town Stowe High School Bellows Falls Union High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
11.3Highest
10.6Lowest
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.