Sample data. These scores are illustrative placeholders, not real measurements — live scores arrive when the data pipeline runs.
Where Stowe lands on the scale
Every city is graded on the same 0–100 Fun Score, split into five bands from quiet to exceptional — here is where Stowe sits.
How the Fun Score adds up
The Fun Score is one number with two halves — 16 things that make Stowe fun, minus 7 that wear it down. Here is the arithmetic.
16 things that lift the score, blended onto 0–100
7 things that wear it down, blended onto 0–100
- Fun factors lift it
- –
- Drawbacks pull it down
- –
- Raw composite
- –
- Fun Score placed on the published 0–100 scale
- –
Only 40% of the drawback total is subtracted — even a great city can carry a few flaws. Every factor below spells its contribution out as an equation — score times weight. Those 23 contributions are the building blocks behind the two totals above (each is rounded for display).
The Fun breakdown
Every factor is scored 0–100 against the other cities in the index.
Stowe's strongest factors are Drinks, Coffee and Culture. Its heaviest drawbacks are Crime, Economic Strain and Going-Out Cost.
On every bar, the marker shows the typical city — the median score across the whole index.
What lifts the score
- Eats –
Restaurants, food halls and the depth of the dining scene.
Measured from OpenStreetMap restaurant counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
- Drinks –
Bars, breweries, cocktail rooms and the nightlife spread.
Measured from OpenStreetMap bars, pubs, nightclubs and craft breweries/distilleries, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
- Coffee –
Cafés and the strength of the third-place coffee culture.
Measured from OpenStreetMap café counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
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Music venues and how often live shows actually happen.
Measured from Ticketmaster and SeatGeek show listings, plus OpenStreetMap music venues.
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Notable people the city is known for, plus headliner acts that tour through.
Measured from SeatGeek headliner popularity and Wikidata notable residents (rank-blended).
- Outdoors –
Parks, beaches and easy access to nature.
Measured from OpenStreetMap parks, nature reserves, playgrounds and beaches, plus National Park Service units and Recreation.gov federal facilities.
- Culture –
Museums, theatres, galleries and arts institutions.
Measured from OpenStreetMap museums, galleries and theatres plus geo-tagged Wikipedia landmarks, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
- Events –
Festivals, fairs and a packed year-round events calendar.
Measured from Ticketmaster and SeatGeek festivals, fairs and ticketed events.
- Sports –
Pro and college teams and the game-day energy around them.
Measured from Ticketmaster and SeatGeek pro and college games, plus OpenStreetMap stadiums, sports centres and fitness centres.
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Escape rooms, arcades, trampoline parks and karaoke spots.
Measured from OpenStreetMap escape rooms, arcades, trampoline parks and karaoke venues, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
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How much the city is talked about and searched for — news and search attention.
Measured from GDELT news tone and Google Trends search interest (each percentile-ranked, then averaged).
- Climate –
How often the weather is good enough to get outside.
Measured from NOAA climate normals — counts of comfortable days.
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How well a person without a car can move around the city.
Measured from GTFS schedules via Transit.land, the Federal Transit Administration National Transit Database and US Census ACS B08301 commuter mode share.
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Density of fun within walking distance — sidewalks, intersections, mixed-use blocks.
Measured from EPA National Walkability Index (block-group resolution, population-weighted to the city).
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Density of college and university students — the engine behind a college town.
Measured from NCES Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) full-time-equivalent enrollment and US Census ACS age cohort data.
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Protected bike lanes and a working public bikeshare system.
Measured from OpenStreetMap protected cycleway segments and the MobilityData GBFS bikeshare-feed catalog.
What weighs it down
- Crime –
Reported violent and property crime rates.
Measured from FBI Crime Data Explorer and city open-data crime portals.
- Traffic –
Congestion and the time lost to commuting.
Measured from US Census commute-time data (ACS).
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Recent particulate matter and ozone levels — a trailing-week air-quality average.
Measured from EPA AirNow and OpenAQ pollution readings (seven-day trailing average).
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Exposure to natural hazards and severe events.
Measured from FEMA National Risk Index.
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Punishing heat, cold and storm extremes.
Measured from NOAA Storm Events and climate-extremes data.
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Cost of living and housing pressure on residents.
Measured from Bureau of Labor Statistics unemployment, HUD Fair Market Rent and US Census median income plus poverty rate.
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What a typical night out actually costs in this metro.
Measured from Bureau of Labor Statistics regional Consumer Price Index — food away from home, recreation services and transportation services.
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Cities like Stowe
The Stowe read Free
A written read on Stowe, grounded in the data
A plain-English analysis of why Stowe scores the way it does — its standout strengths, where it falls short, who it suits best, and the cities most like it. Every figure is drawn from the same 23 factors on this page: it narrates the measured data, it never invents a number.
Stowe, VT: A "Some Fun" Destination with Top-Tier Drinks and Culture
Stowe, VT earns a Fun Score of 43, placing it in the "Some Fun" category and making it the #1 city nationally for its exceptional Drinks scene.
Why it scores high
Stowe shines in several key areas, particularly for those who appreciate fine beverages and rich cultural experiences. The city boasts an outstanding Drinks scene, scoring a remarkable 93 and ranking #1 nationally out of 134 cities. This indicates a vibrant array of bars, pubs, nightclubs, and craft breweries or distilleries, all with high-quality ratings (OpenStreetMap bars, pubs, nightclubs and craft breweries/distilleries, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality). Complementing this, Stowe's Coffee culture is equally impressive, also scoring 93 and ranking #1 nationally (OpenStreetMap café counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality). Whether you're seeking a morning pick-me-up or an evening libation, Stowe offers top-tier options.
Beyond its beverage offerings, Stowe also stands out for its rich Culture, achieving a score of 93 and ranking #1 nationally. This suggests a wealth of museums, galleries, and theaters, alongside numerous geo-tagged Wikipedia landmarks, all contributing to a highly-rated cultural landscape (OpenStreetMap museums, galleries and theatres plus geo-tagged Wikipedia landmarks, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality). For those who enjoy the outdoors, Stowe provides excellent opportunities, with an Outdoors score of 92, tied for #2 nationally. This indicates abundant parks, nature reserves, playgrounds, and access to federal facilities (OpenStreetMap parks, nature reserves, playgrounds and beaches, plus National Park Service units and Recreation.gov federal facilities). Furthermore, the city offers a strong Eats scene, scoring 92 and tied for #2 nationally (OpenStreetMap restaurant counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality), ensuring visitors and residents have access to a variety of high-quality dining experiences. Finally, for those looking for unique recreational activities, Stowe's Unique Hangouts score of 92, tied for #2 nationally, suggests a good selection of escape rooms, arcades, trampoline parks, and karaoke venues (OpenStreetMap escape rooms, arcades, trampoline parks and karaoke venues, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality).
Where it falls short
While Stowe excels in several areas, it does have some notable weaknesses. The city's City Vibe is quite low, scoring only 1 and ranking 133rd nationally (GDELT news tone and Google Trends search interest (each percentile-ranked, then averaged)). This suggests a less dynamic or bustling atmosphere compared to other cities. Similarly, public transportation is a challenge, with Transit Quality scoring just 1 and tied for 132nd nationally (GTFS schedules via Transit.land, the Federal Transit Administration National Transit Database and US Census ACS B08301 commuter mode share). This means getting around without a personal vehicle could be difficult.
The city also struggles with Higher Education, scoring 2 and tied for 131st nationally (NCES Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) full-time-equivalent enrollment and US Census ACS age cohort data), indicating a limited presence of colleges and universities. For those seeking vibrant nightlife or large-scale entertainment, the Events scene is quite limited, scoring 4 and tied for 124th nationally (Ticketmaster and SeatGeek festivals, fairs and ticketed events). The Climate also presents a challenge, with a score of 11 and tied for 119th nationally (NOAA climate normals — counts of comfortable days), suggesting fewer comfortable days throughout the year. Additionally, the city's Crime score is 15, ranking 115th nationally (FBI Crime Data Explorer and city open-data crime portals), indicating a relatively less safe environment compared to many other cities.
Who it's for
Stowe is ideal for individuals who prioritize exceptional culinary and beverage experiences, a rich cultural scene, and abundant outdoor activities. It's a perfect fit for those who appreciate a slower pace of life and don't rely heavily on public transportation or a bustling urban environment.
Cities like it
- Santa Fe, NM shares a similar blend of cultural richness and natural beauty.
- Gatlinburg, TN offers a comparable focus on outdoor recreation and unique local attractions.
- Albuquerque, NM also provides a strong cultural presence and access to outdoor adventures.
Sources
- Bureau of Labor Statistics regional Consumer Price Index — food away from home, recreation services and transportation services
- Bureau of Labor Statistics unemployment, HUD Fair Market Rent and US Census median income plus poverty rate
- EPA AirNow and OpenAQ pollution readings (seven-day trailing average)
- EPA National Walkability Index (block-group resolution, population-weighted to the city)
- FBI Crime Data Explorer and city open-data crime portals
- FEMA National Risk Index
- GDELT news tone and Google Trends search interest (each percentile-ranked, then averaged)
- GTFS schedules via Transit.land, the Federal Transit Administration National Transit Database and US Census ACS B08301 commuter mode share
- NCES Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) full-time-equivalent enrollment and US Census ACS age cohort data
- NOAA climate normals — counts of comfortable days
- NOAA Storm Events and climate-extremes data
- OpenStreetMap bars, pubs, nightclubs and craft breweries/distilleries, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
- OpenStreetMap café counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
- OpenStreetMap escape rooms, arcades, trampoline parks and karaoke venues, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
- OpenStreetMap museums, galleries and theatres plus geo-tagged Wikipedia landmarks, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
- OpenStreetMap parks, nature reserves, playgrounds and beaches, plus National Park Service units and Recreation.gov federal facilities
- OpenStreetMap restaurant counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
- OpenStreetMap protected cycleway segments and the MobilityData GBFS bikeshare-feed catalog
- SeatGeek headliner popularity and Wikidata notable residents (rank-blended)
- Ticketmaster and SeatGeek festivals, fairs and ticketed events
- Ticketmaster and SeatGeek pro and college games, plus OpenStreetMap stadiums, sports centres and fitness centres
- Ticketmaster and SeatGeek show listings, plus OpenStreetMap music venues
- US Census commute-time data (ACS)
This narrative is generated by AI from CityFunIndex's measured data. The Fun Scores, ranks and raw values are computed deterministically; the wording around them is the model's. Verify any figure against the linked city page.
Go deeper
Use the data
Stowe’s Fun Score and every factor score are available through the licensed CityFunIndex API — clean JSON, metered one call per city record, behind a paid key.
Cite this page
Paste-ready credit line for journalists, researchers and bloggers. Carries the score, the algorithm version and the canonical URL so readers can verify it themselves.
CityFunIndex Fun Score for Stowe, VT: 44/100 (v2.1.0-dev). https://cityfunindex.com/city/stowe-vt
Press, research and partnership enquiries: media kit · api@cityfunindex.com.