Compare towns
Roxbury vs Williston vs Dummerston vs Nelson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Roxbury has the most affordable homes ($323k median).
Williston has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
Dummerston has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% 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 | Roxbury | Williston | Dummerston | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 299Lowest |
10,144Highest |
2,090 |
648 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±17.7 11% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Dummerston and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±11.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±10.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nelson and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.4%±15.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Roxbury and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,226±$14kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23k 24% above U.S. |
| Williston and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $323,100±$219kLowest about the U.S. average |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$335,300±$22k about the U.S. average |
$340,900±$49k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,787Highest 86% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
$4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$5,575 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williston and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 21% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 0.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson and Dummerston 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 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Nelson 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 | 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.