Compare towns
Manchester vs Sandgate vs Williston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Manchester has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Sandgate has the most affordable homes ($194k median).
Williston has the most kids (20.5% 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 | Manchester | Sandgate | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,486 |
435Lowest |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.5±6.3 26% above VT |
55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% above VT |
| Sandgate and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±7.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
26%±11.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Sandgate and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.4% VT: 43.8% |
37.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
| Manchester and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,886±$23k 17% above VT |
$69,167±$19kLowest 15% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
| Williston and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $454,600±$47k 44% above VT |
$193,800±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
| Williston and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,057±$76Lowest 14% below VT |
— | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,923Highest 18% above VT |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.5%±13.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Manchester and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 39% below VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 23.1%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate and Manchester 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 | #37 of 70 in VT | — | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.