Compare towns

Ferrisburgh vs Williston vs Bow

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ferrisburgh has the most affordable homes ($423k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).

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.

MeasureFerrisburghWillistonBow
People
Population
2,661Lowest
10,144Highest
8,335
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.5±4.9Highest
17% above U.S.
45.4±4.5
17% above U.S.
41.5±2Lowest
7% above U.S.
Ferrisburgh and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.2%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.5%±5.2
U.S.: 22%
25%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Bow and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.3%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21%±3.5
U.S.: 17.2%
17.6%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Ferrisburgh and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
51.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
54.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
60.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.7%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Williston and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$106,989±$22k
33% above U.S.
$106,967±$12kLowest
32% above U.S.
$172,857±$16kHighest
114% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$422,700±$35kLowest
27% above U.S.
$475,800±$40k
43% above U.S.
$506,500±$34kHighest
52% above U.S.
Bow and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,435±$173Lowest
about the U.S. average
$1,832±$130Highest
30% above U.S.
$1,539±$178
9% above U.S.
Williston and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,120
96% above U.S.
$5,592Lowest
79% above U.S.
$9,584Highest
207% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57%±19.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.9%±17.4
U.S.: 51.1%
39%±13.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Ferrisburgh and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
75.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968Lowest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1993Highest
13 yrs newer than U.S.
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
8% above U.S.
20 minLowest
25% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
14.6%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.3%±7.6
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Bow 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 #7 of 70 in VT #11 of 70 in VT #26 of 120 in NH
School district Addison Northwest Unified Union School District #54 Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 Bow School District
High school in town None in town None in town Bow High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
12.8
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.