Compare towns
South Burlington vs White River Junction vs Williston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
White River Junction has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
Williston has the most homeowners (75.1%).
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 | White River Junction | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,756Highest |
3,364Lowest |
10,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.3% VT: +2.8% |
+10.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.2±1.8 11% below VT |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 19%±2.3 VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and South Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±2.1 VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Williston and South Burlington 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% |
38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±2Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
| South Burlington and Williston 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 |
$77,168±$4kLowest 5% below 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 |
$278,800±$78kLowest 12% below 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 |
$1,222±$216Lowest about the VT average |
$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 |
$5,651 12% above VT |
$5,592Lowest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±7.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Williston and South Burlington 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% |
12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.6% VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989 13 yrs newer than VT |
1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 25% below VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
20 minHighest 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.3 VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and South Burlington 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 | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | South Burlington High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.