Compare towns
Williston vs Norwich 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).
Norwich has the highest household income ($140k).
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 | Norwich | Stowe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
3,640Lowest |
5,285 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% below VT |
46.3±7.6Highest 7% above VT |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Norwich and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
16%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
81%Highest VT: 43.8% |
66.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
4.8%±2.4 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Williston and Norwich 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 |
$140,313±$12kHighest 73% above VT |
$93,618±$33kLowest 15% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,800±$40kLowest 50% above VT |
$637,500±$76k 101% above VT |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
| Stowe and Norwich 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 |
$1,460±$322 18% above VT |
$1,458±$242Lowest 18% above VT |
| Williston and Norwich 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 98% above VT |
$7,161 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.7%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Williston and Norwich 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% |
2.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% VT: 73.2% |
71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
78.6%Highest 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 minHighest 16% below VT |
19 minLowest 19% below VT |
19 min 18% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
21%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | #1 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Norwich School District | 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.