Compare towns
Mount Desert vs Wayne vs Williston vs Bristol
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mount Desert has the most expensive homes ($522k median).
Wayne has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Bristol has the oldest population (median age 61).
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 | Mount Desert | Wayne | Williston | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,671 |
1,101Lowest |
10,144Highest |
2,917 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.9±8.2 41% above U.S. |
55.6±5.3 43% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Lowest 17% above U.S. |
61±3.2Highest 57% above U.S. |
| Bristol and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Williston and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.1%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
42.8%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±4.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wayne and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,813±$9kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$93,194±$26k 15% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$100,750±$19k 25% above U.S. |
| Williston and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $522,100±$66kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$362,800±$29kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$406,400±$54k 22% above U.S. |
| Mount Desert and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,341±$89 5% below U.S. |
$983±$554Lowest 30% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,051±$106 26% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,512 13% above U.S. |
$3,289 5% above U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$2,668Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±31.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±52.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.4%±19.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williston and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 32% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 33% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.1%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.2%±11.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
25%±8.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wayne and Bristol 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 | #16 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Mount Desert Public Schools | RSU 38 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Bristol Public Schools |
| High school in town | None 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.