Compare towns
Mapleton vs Starks vs Williston vs Union
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mapleton has the oldest housing (typical home built 1977).
Starks has the most affordable homes ($149k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Union has the most kids (24.9% 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 | Mapleton | Starks | Williston | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884 |
556Lowest |
10,144Highest |
2,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
46.7±9.4Highest 20% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Starks and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
21%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$63,500±$8kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
| Williston and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $191,800±$23k 42% below U.S. |
$148,500±$27kLowest 55% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,063±$301 25% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,789 43% below U.S. |
$1,348Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.5%±90.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williston and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
3.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Union 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 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| 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 | 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.