Compare towns

Belgrade vs Williston vs Sidney

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Belgrade has the most affordable homes ($312k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Sidney has the youngest population (median age 43).

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.

MeasureBelgradeWillistonSidney
People
Population
3,351Lowest
10,144Highest
4,790
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
47.3±14.6Highest
22% above U.S.
45.4±4.5
17% above U.S.
43±5.5Lowest
11% above U.S.
Belgrade and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.6%±6.9
U.S.: 22%
20.5%±5.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.1%±5.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Sidney and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.9%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21%±3.5
U.S.: 17.2%
18.4%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Belgrade and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
49.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
54.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
33.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.7%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.7%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.5%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$88,338±$13k
9% above U.S.
$106,967±$12kHighest
32% above U.S.
$83,488±$10kLowest
3% above U.S.
Williston and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$312,200±$44kLowest
6% below U.S.
$475,800±$40kHighest
43% above U.S.
$336,200±$34k
about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$857±$108Lowest
39% below U.S.
$1,832±$130Highest
30% above U.S.
$1,340±$304
5% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,859
8% below U.S.
$5,592Highest
79% above U.S.
$2,474Lowest
21% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
17.2%±35.9
U.S.: 51.1%
46.9%±17.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
16.4%±17.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Williston and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.1%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
89.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985Lowest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1993
13 yrs newer than U.S.
1996Highest
16 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
13% below U.S.
20 minLowest
25% below U.S.
25 minHighest
6% below U.S.
Work from home
20.4%±8.6
U.S.: 15.1%
22.3%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.3%±5.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Williston and Belgrade 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 #71 of 133 in ME #11 of 70 in VT #15 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 18 Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 RSU 18
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.