Compare towns
Sidney vs Union vs Williston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sidney has the most homeowners (89.4%).
Union has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Sidney | Union | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,790 |
2,663Lowest |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±5.5 11% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Williston and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,488±$10k 3% above U.S. |
$80,724±$9kLowest about the U.S. average |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $336,200±$34k about the U.S. average |
$267,600±$42kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,340±$304 5% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,474Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williston and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1993 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.3%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Union 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 | #15 of 133 in ME | — | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | RSU 18 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| 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 |
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.