Compare towns
Shoreham vs Williston vs Bethel
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Shoreham has the oldest population (median age 51.8).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Bethel has the most affordable homes ($238k 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 | Shoreham | Williston | Bethel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,269Lowest |
10,144Highest |
1,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.8±7.2Highest 20% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% above VT |
50.7±3.7 18% above VT |
| Shoreham and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Shoreham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Shoreham and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.2% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.1 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,654±$23k 15% above VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$75,822±$7kLowest 7% below VT |
| Williston and Shoreham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $316,400±$34k about the VT average |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$238,000±$41kLowest 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,306±$335Lowest 6% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,335±$220 8% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,713Lowest 6% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$5,168 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±48.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
54%±22Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Bethel and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
83.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 11% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
28 minHighest 19% above VT |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Shoreham 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | White River Unified School District #79 |
| 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 |
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.