Compare towns
Brooks vs Mapleton vs Williston vs Franklin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brooks has the most renters (25.4% rent).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Franklin has the oldest population (median age 46).
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 | Brooks | Mapleton | Williston | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,208Lowest |
1,884 |
10,144Highest |
1,628 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±6.6 18% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
46±9.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Franklin and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.6%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Franklin and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brooks and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $59,130±$10kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$65,455±$16k 19% below U.S. |
| Williston and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $196,700±$33k 41% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$245,800±$59k 26% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,116±$112 21% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$888±$306 37% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,096 33% below U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$2,231 28% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.7%±27.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williston and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 19.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
76.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.5%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Brooks 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 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — |
| 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.