Compare towns

Durham vs Williston vs Sidney

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Durham has the most homeowners (95.4%).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Sidney has the most kids (23.1% under 18).

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.

MeasureDurhamWillistonSidney
People
Population
4,262Lowest
10,144Highest
4,790
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.6±5.9Lowest
10% above U.S.
45.4±4.5Highest
17% above U.S.
43±5.5
11% above U.S.
Williston and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.7%±4.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.5%±5.2
U.S.: 22%
23.1%±5.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Sidney and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16.6%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.4%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Williston and Sidney 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%
54.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
33.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.9%±3.1
U.S.: 6.4%
5.7%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.5%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Williston and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$99,181±$5k
23% above U.S.
$106,967±$12kHighest
32% above U.S.
$83,488±$10kLowest
3% above U.S.
Williston and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$322,200±$34kLowest
3% below U.S.
$475,800±$40kHighest
43% above U.S.
$336,200±$34k
about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,832±$130Highest
30% above U.S.
$1,340±$304Lowest
5% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,781
21% above U.S.
$5,592Highest
79% above U.S.
$2,474Lowest
21% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
25%±40.9
U.S.: 51.1%
46.9%±17.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
16.4%±17.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Williston and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
89.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Lowest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1993
13 yrs newer than U.S.
1996Highest
16 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
6% above U.S.
20 minLowest
25% below U.S.
25 min
6% below U.S.
Work from home
20.9%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
22.3%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.3%±5.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Williston and Durham 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 #14 of 133 in ME #11 of 70 in VT #15 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 05 Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 RSU 18
High school in town None 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.