Compare towns
Highgate vs Underhill vs Williston vs Williamstown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Underhill has the most kids (27.8% under 18).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Williamstown has the most affordable homes ($235k median).
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 | Highgate | Underhill | Williston | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528 |
3,141Lowest |
10,144Highest |
3,579 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 about the VT average |
38.1±11.4Lowest 12% below VT |
45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
42±5 about the VT average |
| Williston and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
27.8%±10.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
19.9%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Underhill and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.6%±6 VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
17%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.5% VT: 43.8% |
50.1% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
17.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.5%±2 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
| Williston and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,017±$14kLowest about the VT average |
$92,267±$54k 14% above VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$94,418±$10k 16% above VT |
| Williston and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$446,000±$24k 41% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$234,900±$24kLowest 26% below VT |
| Williston and Underhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
— | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,659±$189 34% above VT |
| Williston and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$6,697Highest 33% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$3,841 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±18.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% VT: 10.1% |
6.4% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
79.8% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
19.4%±11.3 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Underhill 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 | #43 of 70 in VT | #2 of 70 in VT | #11 of 70 in VT | #47 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | None in town | Williamstown Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Highest |
— | — | 9.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT 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.