Compare towns
Freedom vs Williston vs Madison
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 oldest population (median age 60.6).
Williston has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
Madison 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.
| Measure | Freedom | Williston | Madison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,494Lowest |
10,144Highest |
2,680 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.6±3.2Highest 56% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Lowest 17% above U.S. |
50.3±9.7 29% above U.S. |
| Freedom and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.9%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±6.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Madison and Williston 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% |
23.1%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,136±$14kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$102,697±$11k 27% above U.S. |
| Williston and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $389,000±$43k 17% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$388,700±$36kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,556±$256Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Williston and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,478Lowest 12% above U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$4,074 31% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 79.6%±75Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69.2%±46 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Freedom and Madison 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4%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. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.5%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±4.4Lowest 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 | Madison School District |
| 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.