Compare towns
Albany vs Williston vs Madison
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Albany has the most affordable homes ($248k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Madison has the most homeowners (94.4%).
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 | Albany | Williston | Madison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 790Lowest |
10,144Highest |
2,680 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.5±9.7 20% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Lowest 17% above U.S. |
50.3±9.7Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Madison and Albany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.3%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±6.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Madison and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.1%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Madison and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Albany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,639±$19kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$102,697±$11k 27% above U.S. |
| Williston and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $248,300±$68kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$388,700±$36k 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,194±$112Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,556±$256 10% above U.S. |
| Williston and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,554Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$4,074 31% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.2%±97.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
69.2%±46Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Madison and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 16% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
22 minHighest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±18.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Albany 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 | Madison School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.