Compare towns
China vs Williston vs Sidney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
China has the most affordable homes ($240k median).
Williston has the most people working from home (22.3%).
Sidney has the most kids (23.1% under 18).
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 | China | Williston | Sidney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,526Lowest |
10,144Highest |
4,790 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±5.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
43±5.5 11% above U.S. |
| Williston and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sidney and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| China and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and China are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $96,309±$12k 19% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$83,488±$10kLowest 3% above U.S. |
| Williston and China are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,000±$37kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$336,200±$34k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,340±$304Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,535 19% below U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$2,474Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 10.6%±25.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.4%±17.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williston and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1993 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.6%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Sidney 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 | #27 of 133 in ME | #11 of 70 in VT | #15 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | RSU 18 |
| 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 |
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.