Compare towns

Wilder vs Barnard vs Stowe

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
Stowe has the most expensive homes ($648k median).

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.

MeasureWilderBarnardStowe
People
Population
3,087
1,211Lowest
5,285Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+81.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+4.8%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+21.1%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
45.5±8.9
6% above VT
42.4±6Lowest
about the VT average
46.3±7.6Highest
7% above VT
Stowe and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
11.8%±4.1Lowest
VT: 17.9%
26.9%±5.3Highest
VT: 17.9%
22.5%±4.6
VT: 17.9%
Barnard and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
27.3%±4.4Highest
VT: 21.4%
22%±3.6Lowest
VT: 21.4%
25.8%±6.2
VT: 21.4%
Wilder and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
60.2%
VT: 43.8%
55.3%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
66.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
8.1%±3.9Highest
VT: 7%
2.4%±1.8
VT: 7%
1.6%±1.6Lowest
VT: 7%
Wilder and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$75,143±$9kLowest
7% below VT
$97,581±$19kHighest
20% above VT
$93,618±$33k
15% above VT
Barnard and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$273,200±$18kLowest
14% below VT
$402,600±$71k
27% above VT
$647,800±$157kHighest
105% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,142±$451Lowest
7% below VT
$1,372±$80
11% above VT
$1,458±$242Highest
18% above VT
Stowe and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,505Lowest
9% above VT
$6,038
20% above VT
$7,161Highest
42% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39.9%±17.2Highest
VT: 48.4%
27%±19.8
VT: 48.4%
24.5%±15.9Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Wilder and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9.3%
VT: 10.1%
2.6%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
9.9%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
62.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
85.4%Highest
VT: 73.2%
78.6%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983Highest
7 yrs newer than VT
1971Lowest
5 yrs older than VT
1982
6 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
17 minLowest
29% below VT
29 minHighest
21% above VT
19 min
18% below VT
Work from home
12.6%±6.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
19.3%±10.8
VT: 16.9%
24.4%±8.9Highest
VT: 16.9%
Stowe and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 Stowe Town School District
High school in town — None in town Stowe High School
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.