Compare towns
Providence vs Williston vs Butternuts
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Providence has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Butternuts has the most affordable homes ($209k median).
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 | Providence | Williston | Butternuts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,971 |
10,144Highest |
1,743Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±5.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Lowest 17% above U.S. |
48.1±12.7 24% above U.S. |
| Providence and Butternuts are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.5%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Williston and Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Providence and Butternuts are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,574±$16k 15% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$90,313±$19kLowest 12% above U.S. |
| Williston and Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $270,500±$25k 19% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$209,100±$25kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,449±$383 about the U.S. average |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,159±$229Lowest 18% below U.S. |
| Williston and Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,275 5% above U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$2,822Lowest 10% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.9%±50.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±46.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Butternuts and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.7%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.9%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Butternuts 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 | — |
| School district | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | GILBERTSVILLE-MOUNT UPTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | None in town | GILBERTSVILLE-MOUNT UPTON JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.8 |
| 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.