Compare towns
Stowe vs Windham vs Middlesex vs Richmond
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).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($354k median).
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
Richmond has the youngest population (median age 43.7).
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 | Windham | Middlesex | Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,285Highest |
594Lowest |
1,943 |
4,159 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | +2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.3±7.6Highest 7% above VT |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
43.7±5.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Stowe and Middlesex 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% |
17.5%±7.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
21.5%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Stowe and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.8%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Stowe and Windham 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% |
48.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
59.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1.6 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Richmond 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 |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$108,235±$24k 33% above VT |
| Middlesex and Richmond 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 |
$353,900±$20kLowest 12% above VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$432,200±$39k 37% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT |
— | $1,333±$359Lowest 8% above VT |
— |
| Stowe and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,161Highest 42% above VT |
$5,951Lowest 18% above VT |
$6,483 29% above VT |
$6,868 36% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.5%±15.9 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
28.5%±15.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Windham and Richmond 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% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
78.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1982Lowest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 18% below VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 24.4%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | — | — | #5 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Stowe Town School District | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| 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 | 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.