Compare towns
Leicester vs Williston vs Pawlet
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Leicester has the oldest population (median age 48.8).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Pawlet has the most affordable homes ($266k 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 | Leicester | Williston | Pawlet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,026Lowest |
10,144Highest |
1,480 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.8Highest 13% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% above VT |
47.9±7.5 11% above VT |
| Leicester and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.9%±5.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.3%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±6.7 VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Pawlet and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
4.4%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Williston and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,417±$30k 13% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$62,273±$14kLowest 23% below VT |
| Williston and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $309,700±$107k about the VT average |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$266,200±$44kLowest 16% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,098±$300Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,153±$215 7% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,822Lowest 24% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$3,924 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±40.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.6%±21.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Williston and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 20% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
33 minHighest 40% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.7%±5.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.4%±8.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Pawlet 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 | Mettawee School District #84 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT 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.