Compare towns
Williston vs Wardsboro vs Stratton vs Stowe
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wardsboro has the most affordable homes ($299k median).
Stratton has the youngest population (median age 31.5).
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 | Wardsboro | Stratton | Stowe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
820 |
532Lowest |
5,285 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
51.6±7.3Highest 20% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
46.3±7.6 7% above VT |
| Wardsboro 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% |
18.8%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton 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% |
27.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Wardsboro 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% |
38.9% VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Williston and Stowe 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 |
$62,000±$6kLowest 24% below VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$93,618±$33k 15% above VT |
| Stratton 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 |
$299,300±$47kLowest 5% below VT |
$400,000±$50k 26% above 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 |
$1,479±$224 20% above VT |
$1,208±$979Lowest about the VT average |
$1,458±$242 18% above VT |
| Williston and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592 11% above VT |
$4,345Lowest 14% below VT |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$7,161Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58Highest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Wardsboro and Williston 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% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% VT: 73.2% |
90.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
78.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1988 12 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 16% below VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest 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 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | — | 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 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.