Compare towns
Smithville vs Williston vs McDonough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Smithville has the youngest population (median age 43.1).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
McDonough has the most people working from home (31.5%).
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 | Smithville | Williston | McDonough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,525 |
10,144Highest |
946Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-10%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±3.2Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
53.5±1.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Williston and Smithville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| McDonough and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
13%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Smithville and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,433±$7k 13% below U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$68,266±$11kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $173,200±$42k 48% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$113,100±$40kLowest 66% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $889±$186Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$950±$392 33% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,254 36% above U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$2,542Lowest 18% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.9%±31.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
81.3%±23.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| McDonough and Smithville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 4.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±23.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| McDonough and Williston 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 | — |
| High school 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.