Compare towns
Jefferson vs Williston vs Unity vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Unity has the most affordable homes ($276k 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 | Jefferson | Williston | Unity | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,013Lowest |
10,144Highest |
1,375 |
1,208 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58±3.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Lowest 17% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
55±4.7 41% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12.5%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Williston and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.7%±9.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,188±$13kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$89,453±$12k 11% above U.S. |
| Williston and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $296,700±$92k 11% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$276,100±$29kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$358,600±$32k 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $867±$156Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,625±$804 15% above U.S. |
$1,106±$160 22% below U.S. |
| Williston and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,196Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$5,394 73% above U.S. |
$4,321 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±71.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±88.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williston and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
35 min 32% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Jefferson 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 | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Unity School District | Washington School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 20 photos → | None yet | 4 photos → | 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.