Compare towns
Lancaster vs Williston vs Underhill
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($201k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Underhill has the most kids (27.8% under 18).
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 | Lancaster | Williston | Underhill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,230Lowest |
10,144Highest |
3,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.6±8.5 about the U.S. average |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
38.1±11.4Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Williston and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25.1%±8.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.8%±10.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Underhill and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,765±$20kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$92,267±$54k 14% above U.S. |
| Williston and Underhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $200,500±$24kLowest 40% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$446,000±$24k 34% above U.S. |
| Williston and Underhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,036±$221Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,225Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
$6,697Highest 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±18.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±18.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williston and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±11.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #107 of 120 in NH | #11 of 70 in VT | #2 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.