Compare towns
Bath vs Ryegate vs Williston vs Lempster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ryegate has the youngest population (median age 41.2).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Lempster has the most homeowners (98.2%).
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 | Bath | Ryegate | Williston | Lempster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,097 |
1,059 |
10,144Highest |
953Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±8.6 25% above U.S. |
41.2±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
50.8±7.2Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Lempster and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ryegate and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±1.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.4%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bath and Lempster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lempster and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,813±$22k 16% below U.S. |
$66,484±$15kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$86,607±$12k 7% above U.S. |
| Williston and Lempster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,400±$23k 30% below U.S. |
$219,300±$32kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$241,900±$29k 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,438±$309 about the U.S. average |
$908±$236Lowest 36% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
— |
| Williston and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,413 41% above U.S. |
$3,472Lowest 11% above U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$4,558 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 5.9%±61.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±29.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lempster and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1949Lowest 31 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.2%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Bath School District | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Lempster 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 | 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.