Compare towns

St. Johnsbury 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. Johnsbury has the most affordable homes ($178k median).
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.

MeasureSt. JohnsburyWilliston
People
Population
7,368Lowest
10,144Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+16.2%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
42.8±3.8Lowest
about the VT average
45.4±4.5Highest
5% above VT
Williston and St. Johnsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21%±2.9Highest
VT: 17.9%
20.5%±5.2Lowest
VT: 17.9%
St. Johnsbury and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.1%±3.6Highest
VT: 21.4%
21%±3.5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
St. Johnsbury and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
30.3%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
54.9%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±2.2Lowest
VT: 7%
5.7%±2.7Highest
VT: 7%
Williston and St. Johnsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$57,738±$9kLowest
29% below VT
$106,967±$12kHighest
32% above VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$177,700±$17kLowest
44% below VT
$475,800±$40kHighest
50% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$914±$44Lowest
26% below VT
$1,832±$130Highest
48% above VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,916Lowest
22% below VT
$5,592Highest
11% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48%±11Highest
VT: 48.4%
46.9%±17.4Lowest
VT: 48.4%
St. Johnsbury and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
16.8%Highest
VT: 10.1%
4.3%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
59.6%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
75.1%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1944Lowest
32 yrs older than VT
1993Highest
17 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minLowest
17% below VT
20 minHighest
16% below VT
Work from home
17.6%±4.8Lowest
VT: 16.9%
22.3%±7.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
Williston and St. Johnsbury 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 #60 of 70 in VT #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 Our Story 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.