Compare towns
Brooks vs Union vs Williston vs Mars Hill
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 oldest population (median age 45.9).
Union has the most homeowners (85.9%).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Mars Hill has the most affordable homes ($164k 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 | Brooks | Union | Williston | Mars Hill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,208Lowest |
2,663 |
10,144Highest |
1,398 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±6.6Highest 18% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
43.4±3 12% above U.S. |
| Brooks and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Mars Hill 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% |
21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Mars Hill and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±3.4 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. |
$80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$65,273±$9k 19% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $196,700±$33k 41% below U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$163,600±$23kLowest 51% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,116±$112 21% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$488±$96Lowest 65% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,096 33% below U.S. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$1,843Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18%±17.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.6%±7.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williston and Mars Hill 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% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
21 min 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.5%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Union 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 40/MSAD 40 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | RSU 42/MSAD 42 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Central Aroostook Jr-Sr H S |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 8.0 |
| 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.