Compare towns
Jackson vs Williston vs Alstead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).
Williston has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
Alstead has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Jackson | Williston | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 897Lowest |
10,144Highest |
1,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +26%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.5±2.5Highest 56% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Lowest 17% above U.S. |
56±3.3 44% above U.S. |
| Jackson and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 4.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Williston and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.4%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jackson and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,986±$46kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$64,526±$11kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Jackson and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $719,300±$109kHighest 116% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$271,600±$37kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,750±$1kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
— |
| Williston and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,001Highest 92% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
$5,322Lowest 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.1%±59.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alstead and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
76% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.2%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Jackson 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 | Jackson School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| 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.