Compare towns
Delaware vs Williston vs Nelson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Delaware has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Nelson has the oldest housing (typical home built 1957).
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 | Delaware | Williston | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,261 |
10,144Highest |
1,765Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -17.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.3±6.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Lowest 17% above U.S. |
47.2±6.2 21% above U.S. |
| Delaware and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±8 U.S.: 22% |
| Williston and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Delaware and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.8%±23.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Delaware and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $96,146±$28k 19% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$82,063±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Williston and Delaware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,300±$17kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$230,000±$18k 31% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$773±$328Lowest 45% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,989 60% above U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$3,990Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.4%±29.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
22.2%±40.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williston and Delaware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 3% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.3%±14.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Delaware and Williston 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 | 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.