Compare towns
Appleton vs Mapleton vs Searsmont 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
Appleton has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Searsmont has the most homeowners (90.6%).
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 | Appleton | Mapleton | Searsmont | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
1,884 |
1,646 |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.5±9.8 14% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
10%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Searsmont and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$87,000±$20k 8% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Williston and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$284,000±$31k 15% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$940±$311 33% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$2,788 11% below U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.4%±41.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±10.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Searsmont 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 | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 71 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.