Compare towns
Madison vs Williston vs Dunbarton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Madison has the most affordable homes ($389k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Dunbarton has the highest household income ($124k).
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 | Madison | Williston | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,680Lowest |
10,144Highest |
3,097 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.3±9.7Highest 29% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Lowest 17% above U.S. |
48±3.7 23% above U.S. |
| Madison and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±6.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Madison and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.1%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Madison and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,697±$11kLowest 27% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$124,348±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
| Dunbarton and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $388,700±$36kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$484,100±$33kHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Dunbarton and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,556±$256 10% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,166±$70Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Williston and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,074Lowest 31% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
$8,233Highest 164% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.2%±46Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.7%±60.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Madison and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1990 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 16% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Dunbarton 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 | #33 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Madison School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Dunbarton 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.