What stands out worked out from the figures below

Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).

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

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	Townsend	Stowe
People
Population	9,100Highest	5,285Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S.	46.3±7.6Highest 19% above U.S.
	Stowe and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Stowe and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	25.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	66.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Townsend and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S.	$93,618±$33kLowest 16% above U.S.
	Townsend and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S.	$647,800±$157kHighest 95% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S.	$1,458±$242Lowest 3% above U.S.
	Townsend and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S.	$7,161Highest 130% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Townsend and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	78.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 41% above U.S.	19 minLowest 27% below U.S.
Work from home	10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	24.4%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#136 of 282 in MA	—
School district	North Middlesex	Stowe Town School District
High school in town	North Middlesex Regional	Stowe High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1Highest	11.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	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.