Compare towns
Hope vs Williston vs Appleton vs Mount Vernon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hope has the most kids (23.3% under 18).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Mount Vernon has the most people working from home (28.3%).
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 | Hope | Williston | Appleton | Mount Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,748 |
10,144Highest |
1,360Lowest |
1,716 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±3.1Lowest 15% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
47.1±6.2 21% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Mount Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Hope and Mount Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Mount Vernon and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,766±$6k 7% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$74,395±$6k 8% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $373,400±$33k 12% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$264,200±$23k 21% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,219±$182 14% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$893±$168Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,842 23% above U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$2,832Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±38.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
26.9%±36.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 25% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.3%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.3%±11.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mount Vernon and Williston 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 | Hope Public Schools | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 38 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.