Compare towns
Williston vs Strafford vs Cavendish 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 renters (24.9% rent).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Cavendish has the most affordable homes ($285k median).
Stowe has the most expensive homes ($648k 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 | Strafford | Cavendish | Stowe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
1,372 |
1,242Lowest |
5,285 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
45.2±5.9Lowest 5% above VT |
46.3±7.6 7% above VT |
| Strafford 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% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±4.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Stowe 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% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±2 VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Stowe and Cavendish 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% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
39.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Williston and Strafford 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 |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$89,063±$29kLowest 10% above VT |
$93,618±$33k 15% above VT |
| Strafford 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 |
$431,300±$40k 36% above VT |
$285,100±$40kLowest 10% below VT |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
| Stowe and Williston 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 |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,000±$546Lowest 19% below VT |
$1,458±$242 18% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592 11% above VT |
$7,149 42% above VT |
$3,948Lowest 22% below VT |
$7,161Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27 VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Williston and Strafford 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% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.3% VT: 73.2% |
78.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 16% below VT |
23 minHighest about the VT average |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
19 min 18% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Strafford School District | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Stowe Town School District |
| High school in town | None 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 | 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.