Compare towns
Williston vs Vernon vs Sheldon 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 highest household income ($107k).
Vernon has the oldest housing (typical home built 1979).
Sheldon has the most homeowners (89%).
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 | Vernon | Sheldon | Stowe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
2,709 |
2,267Lowest |
5,285 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
42.6±5.4 about the VT average |
40.9±3.5Lowest 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%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon 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% |
22.8%±2.1 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Stowe and Vernon 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% |
26.6% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Williston and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$85,682±$9k 6% above VT |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
$93,618±$33k 15% above VT |
| Williston and Stowe 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 |
$285,100±$25k 10% below VT |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% 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 |
$1,023±$214Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,458±$242 18% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592 11% above VT |
$5,191 3% above VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$7,161Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
26.2%±3.7 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Williston and Vernon 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% |
5.5% VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
76.2% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
78.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 16% below VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
25 minHighest 7% above VT |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
6.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 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 | #30 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Vernon School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | 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 History | 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.