Compare towns
Hope vs Williston vs Dedham
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 youngest population (median age 44.6).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Dedham has the most affordable homes ($356k 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 | Hope | Williston | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,748 |
10,144Highest |
1,656Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±3.1Lowest 15% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
46.5±2.2Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dedham and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hope and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,766±$6kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$111,442±$18kHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $373,400±$33k 12% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$356,400±$33kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,219±$182Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,422±$607 about the U.S. average |
| Williston and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,842Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$3,942 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±38.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
13%±85.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williston and Hope 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 25% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.3%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Hope 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 | Dedham Public Schools |
| 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.