Compare towns
Freedom vs Williston vs Center Harbor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Freedom has the most affordable homes ($389k median).
Williston has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
Center Harbor has the oldest housing (typical home built 1982).
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 | Freedom | Williston | Center Harbor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,494 |
10,144Highest |
955Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.6±3.2Highest 56% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Lowest 17% above U.S. |
60.4±4.8 55% above U.S. |
| Freedom and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.9%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.9%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Williston and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 40.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
39.5%±13.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Freedom and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,136±$14kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$104,313±$16k 29% above U.S. |
| Williston and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $389,000±$43kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$463,800±$74k 39% above U.S. |
| Williston and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,832±$130 30% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,478Lowest 12% above U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$4,667 50% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 79.6%±75Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
14.3%±59.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Freedom and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.5%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Freedom 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 | Freedom School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — |
| High school 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.