Compare towns
Brooks vs Williston vs Monroe vs Knox
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).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Monroe has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Knox has the most affordable homes ($160k 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 | Williston | Monroe | Knox |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,208 |
10,144Highest |
1,001 |
825Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±6.6Highest 18% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
43.5±7 12% above U.S. |
41.1±7.9Lowest 6% 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%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Monroe 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% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Monroe 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
26%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±4.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±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. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$81,300±$7k about the U.S. average |
$64,821±$9k 20% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $196,700±$33k 41% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$220,300±$57k 34% below U.S. |
$159,600±$26kLowest 52% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,116±$112Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,165±$152 18% below U.S. |
$1,375±$47 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,096 33% below U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$2,207 29% below U.S. |
$1,610Lowest 48% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±47.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
11.3%±31.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Monroe and Williston 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% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1992 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Lowest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.5%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±7.4 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 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | — |
| 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.