Compare towns
Hallowell vs Williston vs Manchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hallowell has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Manchester has the most homeowners (85%).
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 | Hallowell | Williston | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,592 |
10,144Highest |
2,424Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.3±7.9Highest 29% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Lowest 17% above U.S. |
46.9±4.6 21% above U.S. |
| Hallowell and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.2%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Williston and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.2%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hallowell and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.4%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hallowell and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,398±$10kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$92,031±$16k 14% above U.S. |
| Williston and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,300±$45kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$299,600±$40k 10% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $890±$175Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$993±$116 30% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,867 24% above U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$3,486Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.1%±17.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.9%±18.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williston and Hallowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
85%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 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 | 14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
20 minHighest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±8.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.9%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Hallowell 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 | RSU 02 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | RSU 38 |
| 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.