Compare towns
Dalton vs Williston vs Grafton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($191k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Grafton has the youngest population (median age 43.1).
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 | Dalton | Williston | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 916Lowest |
10,144Highest |
1,354 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±12.9 14% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
43.1±10.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Williston and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±11.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Grafton and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,429±$36kLowest about the U.S. average |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$81,563±$22k about the U.S. average |
| Williston and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $191,400±$68kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$267,300±$23k 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $900±$825Lowest 36% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,243±$163 12% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,561Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$5,239 68% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±83.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.1%±34.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dalton and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 25% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
43 minHighest 64% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Grafton 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 | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.