Compare towns
South Burlington vs Calais vs Williston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
South Burlington has the most renters (38.4% rent).
Calais has the most homeowners (92.4%).
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 | South Burlington | Calais | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,756Highest |
1,713Lowest |
10,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.3% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.2±1.8Lowest 11% below VT |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
| Williston and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±2.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Calais and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
55.4% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±2 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Lowest VT: 7% |
| Calais and South Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,667±$13k 31% above VT |
$100,625±$27kLowest 24% above VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
| Williston and South Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $443,400±$19k 40% above VT |
$390,300±$36kLowest 23% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
| Williston and South Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,787±$59 45% above VT |
$1,408±$392Lowest 14% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
| Williston and South Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,674Highest 32% above VT |
$6,586 31% above VT |
$5,592Lowest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±7.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989 13 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 25% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Calais 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 | #12 of 70 in VT | — | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | South Burlington School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | South Burlington High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0 |
— | — |
| 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.