Compare towns
Williston vs Mount Desert 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).
Mount Desert has the oldest population (median age 54.9).
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 | Mount Desert | Stowe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
1,671Lowest |
5,285 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5Lowest 17% above U.S. |
54.9±8.2Highest 41% above U.S. |
46.3±7.6 19% above U.S. |
| Mount Desert 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 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest 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% |
29.1%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Mount Desert 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
64.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
66.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±4.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Mount Desert 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. |
$92,813±$9kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$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±$40kLowest 43% above U.S. |
$522,100±$66k 57% above U.S. |
$647,800±$157kHighest 95% above U.S. |
| Stowe and Mount Desert 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. |
$1,341±$89Lowest 5% below U.S. |
$1,458±$242 3% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592 79% above U.S. |
$3,512Lowest 13% above U.S. |
$7,161Highest 130% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±31.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williston and Mount Desert 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% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minHighest 25% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.1%±9.8Lowest 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 | Mount Desert Public Schools | 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 |
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.