Compare towns
Sidney vs Williston vs Belgrade
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 youngest population (median age 43).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Belgrade has the most affordable homes ($312k 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 | Sidney | Williston | Belgrade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,790 |
10,144Highest |
3,351Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±5.5Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
47.3±14.6Highest 22% above U.S. |
| Belgrade and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Sidney and Belgrade 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%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.9%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Belgrade 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% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,488±$10kLowest 3% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$88,338±$13k 9% above U.S. |
| Williston and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $336,200±$34k about the U.S. average |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$312,200±$44kLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,340±$304 5% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$857±$108Lowest 39% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,474Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$2,859 8% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
17.2%±35.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williston and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Lowest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.3%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.4%±8.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Belgrade 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 | #71 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | RSU 18 |
| 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.