Compare towns
Wilder vs Braintree 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%).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
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.
| Measure | Wilder | Braintree | Stowe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,087 |
1,026Lowest |
5,285Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+21.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9Lowest 6% above VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
46.3±7.6 7% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±6.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Wilder 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% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,143±$9kLowest 7% below VT |
$79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$93,618±$33kHighest 15% above VT |
| Stowe and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,200±$18k 14% below VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$451 7% below VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT |
| Stowe and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,505 9% above VT |
$3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
$7,161Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Braintree and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81%Highest VT: 73.2% |
78.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 29% below VT |
26 minHighest 11% above VT |
19 min 18% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Stowe and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | 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.