Compare towns
Williston vs Shelburne vs Stowe vs Hartford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Shelburne has the most people working from home (31.4%).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k median).
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 | Shelburne | Stowe | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,144 |
7,969 |
5,285Lowest |
10,736Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2% VT: +2.8% |
+8% VT: +2.8% |
+21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+7.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
50.9±3.2Highest 18% above VT |
46.3±7.6 7% above VT |
43.2±3.9Lowest about the VT average |
| Shelburne 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 VT: 17.9% |
20.2%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18%±3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| 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 VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
22.5%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Shelburne 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% VT: 43.8% |
70.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
66.7% VT: 43.8% |
47.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
4.7%±2.9 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
4.9%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Williston and Hartford 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 |
$115,963±$16kHighest 43% above VT |
$93,618±$33k 15% above VT |
$78,125±$7kLowest 4% below VT |
| Shelburne and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,800±$40k 50% above VT |
$588,100±$44k 86% above VT |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
$304,500±$26kLowest 4% below VT |
| Stowe and Shelburne 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 |
$1,442±$589 17% above VT |
$1,458±$242 18% above VT |
$1,218±$118Lowest about the VT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592Lowest 11% above VT |
$8,173Highest 62% above VT |
$7,161 42% above VT |
$5,773 15% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.7%±10.6 VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±12.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Williston and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% VT: 73.2% |
69.9% VT: 73.2% |
78.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 16% below VT |
20 minHighest 14% below VT |
19 min 18% below VT |
18 minLowest 22% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
31.4%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Shelburne 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 | #8 of 70 in VT | — | #34 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Stowe Town School District | Hartford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Stowe High School | Hartford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.3Highest |
9.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.