Compare towns

Appleton vs Mapleton 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).
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.

MeasureAppletonMapletonWilliston
People
Population
1,360Lowest
1,884
10,144Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.2%Lowest
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.
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%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.2%±5.1Highest
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%±3.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Appleton and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
34.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.3%
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%
5.7%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Williston and Mapleton 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.
$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.
$475,800±$40kHighest
43% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,104±$82
22% below U.S.
$610±$277Lowest
57% 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.
$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%
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%
4.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.9%
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.
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.
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%
22.3%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — — #11 of 70 in VT
School district Appleton Public Schools RSU 79/MSAD 01 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.