Compare towns

Williston vs Canaan vs Stowe

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Williston has the highest household income ($107k).
Canaan has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
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.

MeasureWillistonCanaanStowe
People
Population
10,144Highest
3,811Lowest
5,285
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+16.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+21.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.4±4.5
17% above U.S.
44.4±3.7Lowest
14% above U.S.
46.3±7.6Highest
19% above U.S.
Stowe and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.5%±5.2
U.S.: 22%
14.7%±4.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.5%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Stowe and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21%±3.5
U.S.: 17.2%
19.1%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
25.8%±6.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Stowe and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
54.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
28.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
66.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.7%±2.7
U.S.: 6.4%
7%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.6%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Canaan and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$106,967±$12kHighest
32% above U.S.
$81,583±$6kLowest
about the U.S. average
$93,618±$33k
16% above U.S.
Williston and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$475,800±$40k
43% above U.S.
$254,000±$26kLowest
24% below U.S.
$647,800±$157kHighest
95% above U.S.
Stowe and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,832±$130Highest
30% above U.S.
$1,140±$90Lowest
19% below U.S.
$1,458±$242
3% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,592Lowest
79% above U.S.
$5,985
92% above U.S.
$7,161Highest
130% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.9%±17.4
U.S.: 51.1%
74.4%±25.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
24.5%±15.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Canaan and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
13.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
9.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
77.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
78.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1993Highest
13 yrs newer than U.S.
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 min
25% below U.S.
30 minHighest
14% above U.S.
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
Work from home
22.3%±7.6
U.S.: 15.1%
14.9%±6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
24.4%±8.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Stowe and Williston 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 #11 of 70 in VT #83 of 120 in NH —
School district Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 Mascoma Valley Regional School District Stowe Town School District
High school in town None in town Mascoma Valley Regional High School Stowe High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.3Lowest
11.3Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet 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.