Compare towns
Newfield vs Williston vs Acton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newfield has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Acton has the oldest population (median age 52.9).
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 | Newfield | Williston | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,580Lowest |
10,144Highest |
2,721 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.8±8.1 36% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Lowest 17% above U.S. |
52.9±4.2Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Acton and Newfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Williston and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.2%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Newfield and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $57,188±$20kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$78,750±$15k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,100±$27kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$334,300±$34k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,832±$130 30% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,402Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$2,680 14% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 49 minHighest 85% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
40 min 53% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.2%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Acton 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 | #43 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Acton Public Schools |
| 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.