Compare towns
Alstead vs Gilsum vs Williston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alstead has the oldest population (median age 56).
Gilsum has the most homeowners (93.5%).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Alstead | Gilsum | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551 |
716Lowest |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S. |
44.8±8.1Lowest 15% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
12%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Williston and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Alstead and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
18.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,526±$11kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$80,417±$7k about the U.S. average |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,600±$37k 18% below U.S. |
$241,500±$32kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,575±$894Lowest 11% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Williston and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322Lowest 71% above U.S. |
$5,579 79% above U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
76.5%±55.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gilsum and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.9%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Alstead 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 | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Monadnock Regional School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.