Compare towns
Appleton vs Williston vs Dorset vs Liberty
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).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
Liberty has the youngest population (median age 40.5).
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 | Williston | Dorset | Liberty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
10,144Highest |
2,092 |
969Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
40.5±6.8Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Dorset 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% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset 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% |
21%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Dorset 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% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Appleton 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. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$71,146±$15k 12% below U.S. |
| Dorset and Williston 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. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S. |
$229,600±$31kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Dorset and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,420±$296 about the U.S. average |
$559±$193Lowest 60% below U.S. |
| Williston and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
$7,489Highest 140% above U.S. |
$2,434Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±42.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
22 min 18% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 45% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Williston 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 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| 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.