Compare towns
White River Junction vs Stowe vs Dorset
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
White River Junction has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
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 | White River Junction | Stowe | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,364 |
5,285Highest |
2,092Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8% VT: +2.8% |
+21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
46.3±7.6Highest 7% above VT |
45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
| Stowe and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Stowe and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
66.7% VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Dorset and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,168±$4kLowest 5% below VT |
$93,618±$33k 15% above VT |
$111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
| Dorset and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,800±$78kLowest 12% below VT |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
$569,200±$57k 80% above VT |
| Stowe and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,222±$216Lowest about the VT average |
$1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT |
$1,420±$296 15% above VT |
| Stowe and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,651Lowest 12% above VT |
$7,161 42% above VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
78.6% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 35% below VT |
19 min 18% below VT |
22 minHighest 8% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Stowe Town School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | — | Stowe High School | 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.