Compare towns
Belgrade vs Williston vs Sidney vs Smithfield
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 homeowners (93.8%).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Sidney has the youngest population (median age 43).
Smithfield has the most affordable homes ($243k median).
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 | Belgrade | Williston | Sidney | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,351 |
10,144Highest |
4,790 |
856Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±14.6 22% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
43±5.5Lowest 11% above U.S. |
55.8±3.5Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Smithfield and Belgrade 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%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
10%±3.5Lowest 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%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Smithfield and Belgrade 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% |
34.7% 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% |
3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $88,338±$13k 9% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$83,488±$10kLowest 3% above U.S. |
$107,917±$27kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Smithfield and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $312,200±$44k 6% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$336,200±$34k about the U.S. average |
$242,800±$15kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $857±$108Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,340±$304 5% below U.S. |
$1,109±$358 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,859 8% below U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$2,474Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$2,866 8% 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% |
42.9%±45.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williston and Smithfield 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% |
5.8% 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% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above 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% |
22%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Smithfield 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 | 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.