Compare towns
Gilsum vs Williston vs Surry
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gilsum has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Williston has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
Surry has the highest household income ($110k).
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 | Gilsum | Williston | Surry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 716Lowest |
10,144Highest |
1,052 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.8±8.1 15% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
44.7±5.1Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Williston and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Surry and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Surry and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.6%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Surry and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,417±$7kLowest about the U.S. average |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$110,125±$25kHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Surry and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $241,500±$32kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$331,400±$23k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,575±$894Lowest 11% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130 30% above U.S. |
$1,955±$374Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Surry and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,579Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
$6,384Highest 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.5%±55.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±74.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gilsum and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.9%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Surry 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 | Monadnock Regional School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.