Compare towns

New Durham vs Williston vs Madison

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

New Durham has the most affordable homes ($339k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Madison has the most kids (23.1% 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.

MeasureNew DurhamWillistonMadison
People
Population
2,748
10,144Highest
2,680Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
46.5±7.5
20% above U.S.
45.4±4.5Lowest
17% above U.S.
50.3±9.7Highest
29% above U.S.
Madison and New Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.8%±5.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.5%±5.2
U.S.: 22%
23.1%±6.7Highest
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+
23.8%±4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
23.1%±5.2
U.S.: 17.2%
New Durham and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
34.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
54.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1%±0.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.7%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.9%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Williston and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$100,194±$13kLowest
24% above U.S.
$106,967±$12kHighest
32% above U.S.
$102,697±$11k
27% above U.S.
Williston and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$339,400±$27kLowest
about the U.S. average
$475,800±$40kHighest
43% above U.S.
$388,700±$36k
17% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,417±$116Lowest
about the U.S. average
$1,832±$130Highest
30% above U.S.
$1,556±$256
10% above 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
$5,774Highest
85% above U.S.
$5,592
79% above U.S.
$4,074Lowest
31% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
25%±42.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.9%±17.4
U.S.: 51.1%
69.2%±46Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Madison and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94%
U.S.: 65.2%
75.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1993Highest
13 yrs newer than U.S.
1982Lowest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 minHighest
31% above U.S.
20 minLowest
25% below U.S.
22 min
16% below U.S.
Work from home
10%±4.1
U.S.: 15.1%
22.3%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
8%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #11 of 70 in VT —
School district Governor Wentworth Regional School District Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 Madison 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.