Compare towns

Bath vs Williston vs Ryegate

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bath has the most homeowners (90.9%).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Ryegate has the youngest population (median age 41.2).

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.

MeasureBathWillistonRyegate
People
Population
1,097
10,144Highest
1,059Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
0%
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
48.6±8.6Highest
25% above U.S.
45.4±4.5
17% above U.S.
41.2±2.6Lowest
6% above U.S.
Bath and Williston 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%
20.5%±5.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.2%±4.6Highest
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%
21%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.1%±1.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Bath and Ryegate 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%
54.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
29.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.4%±2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.7%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Williston and Bath 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.
$106,967±$12kHighest
32% above U.S.
$66,484±$15kLowest
18% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$234,400±$23k
30% below U.S.
$475,800±$40kHighest
43% above U.S.
$219,300±$32kLowest
34% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,438±$309
about the U.S. average
$1,832±$130Highest
30% above U.S.
$908±$236Lowest
36% below 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.
$5,592Highest
79% above U.S.
$3,472Lowest
11% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
5.9%±61.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.9%±17.4
U.S.: 51.1%
55.9%±29.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Ryegate and Williston 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%
4.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
14.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1993Highest
13 yrs newer than U.S.
1949Lowest
31 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 min
3% below U.S.
20 minLowest
25% below U.S.
28 minHighest
5% above U.S.
Work from home
11.1%±3.2
U.S.: 15.1%
22.3%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.2%±3.7Lowest
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 —
High school 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.