Compare towns

Charlotte vs Bolton vs Williston

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Charlotte has the most expensive homes ($695k median).
Bolton has the most affordable homes ($312k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).

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.

MeasureCharlotteBoltonWilliston
People
Population
3,916
1,163Lowest
10,144Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.2%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+10.1%
VT: +2.8%
+16.2%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
52.2±5Highest
21% above VT
36.3±1.7Lowest
16% below VT
45.4±4.5
5% above VT
Charlotte and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.6%±4.5
VT: 17.9%
14.9%±4Lowest
VT: 17.9%
20.5%±5.2Highest
VT: 17.9%
Williston and Charlotte are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.3%±5.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
6.7%±2.6Lowest
VT: 21.4%
21%±3.5
VT: 21.4%
Charlotte and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
66.2%Highest
VT: 43.8%
58.4%
VT: 43.8%
54.9%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.4%±1.2Lowest
VT: 7%
2.7%±1.8
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
$144,375±$27kHighest
78% above VT
$111,125±$17k
37% above VT
$106,967±$12kLowest
32% above VT
Charlotte and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$695,300±$53kHighest
120% above VT
$311,600±$42kLowest
about the VT average
$475,800±$40k
50% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,738±$803
41% above VT
$1,299±$273Lowest
5% above VT
$1,832±$130Highest
48% above VT
Williston and Charlotte are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,221Highest
83% above VT
$4,826Lowest
4% below VT
$5,592
11% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.1%±28.6Highest
VT: 48.4%
28%±30.8Lowest
VT: 48.4%
46.9%±17.4
VT: 48.4%
Charlotte and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.7%
VT: 10.1%
2.9%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
4.3%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.5%Highest
VT: 73.2%
81.6%
VT: 73.2%
75.1%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Lowest
6 yrs newer than VT
1986
10 yrs newer than VT
1993Highest
17 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
7% above VT
28 minHighest
17% above VT
20 minLowest
16% below VT
Work from home
29.8%±8.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
22.9%±8.2
VT: 16.9%
22.3%±7.6Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Charlotte and Bolton 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 #3 of 70 in VT — #11 of 70 in VT
School district Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 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 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.