Compare towns
Oxford vs Williston vs Charlton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Oxford has the most affordable homes ($375k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Charlton has the most kids (24.7% 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 | Oxford | Williston | Charlton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,385 |
10,144Lowest |
13,435Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±2.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
43±4 11% above U.S. |
| Williston and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Charlton and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Charlton and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,862±$10kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$117,587±$8kHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Charlton and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,900±$18kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$427,500±$19k 28% above U.S. |
| Williston and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,177±$142Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,381±$415 about the U.S. average |
| Williston and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,622 48% above U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$4,617Lowest 48% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.8%±15.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.3%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Oxford and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Oxford 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 | #245 of 282 in MA | #11 of 70 in VT | #133 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Oxford | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric |
| High school in town | Oxford High | None in town | Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Highest |
— | 9.7Lowest |
| 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.