Compare towns
Brookfield vs Harmony vs Williston vs Columbus
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookfield has the youngest population (median age 41.2).
Harmony has the most kids (22.9% under 18).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Columbus has the most homeowners (88.2%).
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 | Brookfield | Harmony | Williston | Columbus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,150 |
2,344 |
10,144Highest |
849Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±6.1Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.8±7 7% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
43.6±11.8 12% above U.S. |
| Williston and Columbus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±9 U.S.: 22% |
| Harmony and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±6.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
17.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Harmony are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,205±$9k 14% below U.S. |
$58,600±$11kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$58,889±$11k 27% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $152,800±$28k 54% below U.S. |
$128,300±$15k 61% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$124,700±$36kLowest 63% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $981±$75 31% below U.S. |
$788±$40Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,500±$635 6% above U.S. |
| Williston and Columbus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,197 about the U.S. average |
$2,805Lowest 10% below U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$3,071 about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.4%±35.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
43%±18.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.6%±92.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Columbus and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.2%±16.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Columbus 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 | — | PANAMA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — |
| High school in town | — | PANAMA HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.5 |
— | — |
| 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.