Compare towns
Starks vs Williston vs Madison
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Starks has the most affordable homes ($149k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Madison has the most renters (45.4% rent).
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 | Starks | Williston | Madison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 556Lowest |
10,144Highest |
4,782 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.7±9.4 20% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Lowest 17% above U.S. |
49.6±3.4Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Madison and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Williston and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Madison and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $63,500±$8k 21% below U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$61,747±$11kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $148,500±$27kLowest 55% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$187,600±$40k 44% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,063±$301 25% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$906±$247Lowest 36% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,348Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$1,983 36% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±90.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.9%±11.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williston and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
54.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 3.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±10.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Madison 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | RSU 59/MSAD 59 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Madison Jr/Sr High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.0 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.