Compare towns
Williston vs Charlotte vs Stowe
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williston has the most affordable homes ($476k median).
Charlotte has the highest household income ($144k).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
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 | Charlotte | Stowe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
3,916Lowest |
5,285 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2% VT: +2.8% |
+4.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5Lowest 5% above VT |
52.2±5Highest 21% above VT |
46.3±7.6 7% above VT |
| Charlotte and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
19.6%±4.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| 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 VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Stowe and Charlotte are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
66.2% VT: 43.8% |
66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| 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±$12k 32% above VT |
$144,375±$27kHighest 78% above VT |
$93,618±$33kLowest 15% above VT |
| Charlotte and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,800±$40kLowest 50% above VT |
$695,300±$53kHighest 120% above VT |
$647,800±$157k 105% above VT |
| Charlotte and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,738±$803 41% above VT |
$1,458±$242Lowest 18% above VT |
| Williston and Charlotte are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592Lowest 11% above VT |
$9,221Highest 83% above VT |
$7,161 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
56.1%±28.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Charlotte and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.3% VT: 10.1% |
3.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
95.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
78.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1982Lowest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1982Lowest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 16% below VT |
25 minHighest 7% above VT |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.8%±8.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Charlotte and Stowe 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 | #3 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Stowe Town School District |
| High school in town | None 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 |
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.