Compare towns
Lowell vs Williston vs Berkshire
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lowell has the most affordable homes ($183k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Berkshire has the youngest population (median age 31.6).
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 | Lowell | Williston | Berkshire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,070Lowest |
10,144Highest |
1,745 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-8.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 32.9±6.5 24% below VT |
45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
31.6±6.9Lowest 27% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
27.2%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Lowell and Berkshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.8%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Williston and Berkshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $57,404±$15kLowest 29% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$71,406±$21k 12% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $183,400±$33kLowest 42% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$244,600±$26k 23% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $945±$46Lowest 23% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,525±$267 24% above VT |
| Williston and Berkshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,810Lowest 44% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$3,545 30% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.3%±92.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
57.4%±52.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Berkshire and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.6% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
77.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 55 minHighest 135% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
32 min 37% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.5%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Berkshire 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 | Lowell School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| 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 |
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.