Compare towns
South Burlington vs Williston vs Bolton
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).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Bolton 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 | South Burlington | Williston | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,756Highest |
10,144 |
1,163Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.3% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+10.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.2±1.8 11% below VT |
45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
36.3±1.7Lowest 16% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 19%±2.3 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.9%±4Lowest 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% |
21%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
6.7%±2.6Lowest 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% |
54.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±2Highest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.8Lowest 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±$13kLowest 31% above VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$111,125±$17kHighest 37% above VT |
| Bolton and Williston 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 |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$311,600±$42kLowest about the VT average |
| 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 |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,299±$273Lowest 5% 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 |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$4,826Lowest 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±7.6 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
28%±30.8Lowest 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
2.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
81.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989 13 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1986Lowest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 25% below VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
28 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±8.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Bolton 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 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| 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 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.