Compare towns
St. Albans vs White River Junction vs Wilder vs Williston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
St. Albans has the most affordable homes ($263k median).
White River Junction has the youngest population (median age 33.7).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Williston has the most expensive homes ($476k 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 | St. Albans | White River Junction | Wilder | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,954 |
3,364 |
3,087Lowest |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.8% VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.7±2 10% below VT |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
45.5±8.9Highest 6% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
| Wilder and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±3.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±5 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 13.9%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Wilder and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
38.9% VT: 43.8% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
| Wilder and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $57,980±$7kLowest 29% below VT |
$77,168±$4k 5% below VT |
$75,143±$9k 7% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $263,400±$18kLowest 17% below VT |
$278,800±$78k 12% below VT |
$273,200±$18k 14% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$78 7% below VT |
$1,222±$216 about the VT average |
$1,142±$451Lowest 7% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,436Lowest 12% below VT |
$5,651Highest 12% above VT |
$5,505 9% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.8%±11.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
| St. Albans and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 19.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.1% VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49% VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
62.9% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1963 13 yrs older than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 4% below VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
17 min 29% below VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and White River Junction 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 | #46 of 70 in VT | — | — | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | — | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | Bellows Free Academy (St. Albans) | — | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.