Compare towns

Newport vs Williston vs St. Johnsbury

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Newport has the shortest commute (15 min average).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
St. Johnsbury has the youngest population (median age 42.8).

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.

MeasureNewportWillistonSt. Johnsbury
People
Population
4,394Lowest
10,144Highest
7,368
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.9%
VT: +2.8%
+16.2%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-3.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
46.4±4.3Highest
8% above VT
45.4±4.5
5% above VT
42.8±3.8Lowest
about the VT average
Newport and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
13.2%±3.9Lowest
VT: 17.9%
20.5%±5.2
VT: 17.9%
21%±2.9Highest
VT: 17.9%
St. Johnsbury and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
25.8%±4.7Highest
VT: 21.4%
21%±3.5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
21.1%±3.6
VT: 21.4%
Newport and St. Johnsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
25.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
54.9%Highest
VT: 43.8%
30.3%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±1.5Lowest
VT: 7%
5.7%±2.7Highest
VT: 7%
5.6%±2.2
VT: 7%
Williston and St. Johnsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$54,646±$12kLowest
33% below VT
$106,967±$12kHighest
32% above VT
$57,738±$9k
29% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$179,400±$11k
43% below VT
$475,800±$40kHighest
50% above VT
$177,700±$17kLowest
44% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$850±$49Lowest
31% below VT
$1,832±$130Highest
48% above VT
$914±$44
26% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,036
20% below VT
$5,592Highest
11% above VT
$3,916Lowest
22% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.2%±15.8Highest
VT: 48.4%
46.9%±17.4Lowest
VT: 48.4%
48%±11
VT: 48.4%
Newport and St. Johnsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
23%Highest
VT: 10.1%
4.3%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
16.8%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
57.6%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
75.1%Highest
VT: 73.2%
59.6%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1966
10 yrs older than VT
1993Highest
17 yrs newer than VT
1944Lowest
32 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
15 minLowest
38% below VT
20 minHighest
16% below VT
20 min
17% below VT
Work from home
16.8%±8.3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
22.3%±7.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
17.6%±4.8
VT: 16.9%
Williston and St. Johnsbury 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 #63 of 70 in VT #11 of 70 in VT #60 of 70 in VT
School district Newport City School District · North Country Union High School District Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 —
High school in town North Country Union High School None in town —
Students per teacherat that high school
10.7
— —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.