Compare towns
Williston vs Needham vs Underhill 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).
Needham has the highest household income ($214k).
Underhill has the youngest population (median age 38.1).
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 | Needham | Underhill | Stowe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,144 |
32,459Highest |
3,141Lowest |
5,285 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
38.1±11.4Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.3±7.6Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Stowe and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
27.8%±10.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Underhill and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stowe and Williston 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% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
66.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Needham 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 U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$92,267±$54kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$93,618±$33k 16% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$446,000±$24kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$647,800±$157k 95% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130 30% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
— | $1,458±$242Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,697 115% above U.S. |
$7,161 130% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±18.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.5%±15.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Williston 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 25% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #2 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Needham | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Stowe Town School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | None in town | Stowe High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
— | 11.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.