Compare towns

Alstead vs Williston vs Marlow

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 most affordable homes ($272k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Marlow has the most homeowners (92.6%).

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.

MeasureAlsteadWillistonMarlow
People
Population
1,551
10,144Highest
855Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
56±3.3Highest
44% above U.S.
45.4±4.5Lowest
17% above U.S.
52.8±11.7
36% above U.S.
Alstead and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
12.3%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.5%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
20.5%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
27.8%±4.2
U.S.: 17.2%
21%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
30.5%±5.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Marlow and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
28.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
54.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
33.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.4%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
5.7%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.3%±2.2Lowest
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.
$106,967±$12k
32% above U.S.
$110,455±$12kHighest
37% above U.S.
Marlow and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$271,600±$37kLowest
18% below U.S.
$475,800±$40kHighest
43% above U.S.
$325,400±$49k
about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,832±$130Highest
30% above U.S.
$1,154±$160Lowest
18% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,322Lowest
71% above U.S.
$5,592
79% above U.S.
$5,826Highest
87% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
72.1%±22.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.9%±17.4
U.S.: 51.1%
18.2%±95.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Alstead and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
76%
U.S.: 65.2%
75.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973Lowest
7 yrs older than U.S.
1993Highest
13 yrs newer than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 min
20% above U.S.
20 minLowest
25% below U.S.
35 minHighest
33% above U.S.
Work from home
12.1%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
22.3%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
0.8%±1.1Lowest
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 Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 Marlow School District
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.