Compare towns
Williston vs Dorset 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).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
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 | Dorset | Stowe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
2,092Lowest |
5,285 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2% VT: +2.8% |
+5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5Lowest 5% above VT |
45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
46.3±7.6Highest 7% above VT |
| Stowe and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Stowe 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% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Stowe and Dorset 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% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
66.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Williston and Dorset 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 |
$111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
$93,618±$33kLowest 15% above VT |
| Dorset 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 |
$569,200±$57k 80% above VT |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
| Stowe and Dorset 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 |
$1,420±$296Lowest 15% above VT |
$1,458±$242 18% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592Lowest 11% above VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$7,161 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset 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 VT: 10.1% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
78.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 16% below VT |
22 minHighest 8% below VT |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset 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 | — | — |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | 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 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.