Compare towns
Williston vs Center Harbor 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 most renters (24.9% rent).
Center Harbor has the oldest population (median age 60.4).
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 | Williston | Center Harbor | Stowe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
955Lowest |
5,285 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5Lowest 17% above U.S. |
60.4±4.8Highest 55% above U.S. |
46.3±7.6 19% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
11.9%±5.4Lowest 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%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
39.5%±13.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Center Harbor and Stowe 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% |
47.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
66.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Stowe 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. |
$104,313±$16k 29% above U.S. |
$93,618±$33kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Williston and Center Harbor 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. |
$463,800±$74kLowest 39% above 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. |
— | $1,458±$242Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592 79% above U.S. |
$4,667Lowest 50% above U.S. |
$7,161Highest 130% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
14.3%±59.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.5%±15.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williston and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 25% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 7% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.9%±5Lowest 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 | — | — |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — | 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 History | 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.