Compare towns
Damascus vs Williston vs Franklin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Damascus has the most homeowners (92%).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Franklin has the most affordable homes ($227k 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 | Damascus | Williston | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,698Lowest |
10,144Highest |
3,843 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.3±1.7Highest 34% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Lowest 17% above U.S. |
51.9±9.1 33% above U.S. |
| Damascus and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±7 U.S.: 22% |
| Williston and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28%±6.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.9%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Damascus and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Damascus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,357±$19kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$82,917±$15k about the U.S. average |
| Williston and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $282,200±$28k 15% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$226,500±$42kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $705±$576Lowest 50% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$948±$68 33% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,504 12% above U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$2,815Lowest 10% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.5%±39 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
18.8%±18Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williston and Damascus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 48% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 7.8%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Franklin 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 | #51 of 764 in PA | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Wayne Highlands SD | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — |
| High school 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.