Compare towns
Williston vs Meredith vs Wolfeboro 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).
Meredith has the oldest housing (typical home built 1975).
Wolfeboro has the oldest population (median age 57).
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 | Meredith | Wolfeboro | Stowe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
6,758 |
6,571 |
5,285Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5Lowest 17% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
46.3±7.6 19% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Meredith 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% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3 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% |
34.2%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wolfeboro and Meredith 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% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
45%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% |
2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Meredith 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. |
$87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$94,375±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$93,618±$33k 16% above U.S. |
| Williston and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,800±$40kLowest 43% above U.S. |
$480,100±$48k 44% above U.S. |
$546,500±$60k 64% above U.S. |
$647,800±$157kHighest 95% above U.S. |
| Stowe and Wolfeboro 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. |
$1,149±$304 19% below U.S. |
$1,103±$76Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,458±$242 3% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592 79% above U.S. |
$5,006 61% above U.S. |
$4,531Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$7,161Highest 130% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.5%±15.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Meredith 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% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% 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. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 25% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stowe and Meredith 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Stowe Town School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School | Kingswood Regional High School | Stowe High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
11.1Lowest |
11.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.