Compare towns
Danby vs Williston vs Wilder vs Pawlet
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danby has the oldest population (median age 52.6).
Williston has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Pawlet has the most affordable homes ($266k 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 | Danby | Williston | Wilder | Pawlet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,133Lowest |
10,144Highest |
3,087 |
1,480 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2% VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8Highest 22% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% above VT |
45.5±8.9 6% above VT |
47.9±7.5 11% above VT |
| Danby and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.3%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
4.4%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Wilder and Williston 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 5% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$75,143±$9k 7% below VT |
$62,273±$14kLowest 23% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$41k 14% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$273,200±$18k 14% below VT |
$266,200±$44kLowest 16% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$166Lowest 36% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,142±$451 7% below VT |
$1,153±$215 7% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,543 10% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$5,505 9% above VT |
$3,924Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.4%±34.6 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.6%±21.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Williston and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.4% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
10%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
17 minLowest 29% below VT |
33 minHighest 40% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
20.4%±8.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Pawlet 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 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — | Mettawee School District #84 |
| 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 | 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.