Compare towns
Williston vs Randolph 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).
Randolph has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
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 | Randolph | Wolfeboro | Stowe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
4,843Lowest |
6,571 |
5,285 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
40.4±7.4Lowest 4% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
46.3±7.6 19% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest 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% |
22.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wolfeboro 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45% U.S.: 35.7% |
66.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$76,758±$6kLowest 5% below 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±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$278,700±$38kLowest 16% below 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. |
$1,172±$173 17% 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. |
$4,698 51% 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% |
54.1%±17.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.5%±15.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Randolph 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% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest 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. |
1971Lowest 9 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. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 10% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stowe and Wolfeboro 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 | #55 of 70 in VT | #46 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Stowe Town School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Randolph Union High School | Kingswood Regional High School | Stowe High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.4Lowest |
11.1 |
11.3Highest |
| 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.