Compare towns
Bolton vs White River Junction vs Williston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bolton has the most homeowners (81.6%).
White River Junction has the most renters (56.1% rent).
Williston has the most expensive homes ($476k 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 | Bolton | White River Junction | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,163Lowest |
3,364 |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.8% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.3±1.7 16% below VT |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 14.9%±4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±5 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 6.7%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.8 VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Williston and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,125±$17kHighest 37% above VT |
$77,168±$4kLowest 5% below VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
| Bolton and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $311,600±$42k about the VT average |
$278,800±$78kLowest 12% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$273 5% above VT |
$1,222±$216Lowest about the VT average |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,826Lowest 4% below VT |
$5,651Highest 12% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28%±30.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Williston and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 17% above VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±8.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Bolton 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 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT 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.