Compare towns
Danby vs Mapleton vs Wells vs Williston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danby has the oldest population (median age 52.6).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Wells has the most homeowners (93.4%).
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.
| Measure | Danby | Mapleton | Wells | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,133Lowest |
1,884 |
1,148 |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8Highest 35% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
50.7±5.2 30% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
| Danby and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wells and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,321±$13k 4% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$75,417±$11kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Williston and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$41k 18% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$243,000±$42k 27% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$166 44% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,313±$282 7% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,543 46% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$3,308 6% above U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.4%±34.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.5%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wells and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
48 minHighest 80% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Danby 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 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None 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.