Compare towns
Troy vs Williston vs Lancaster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Troy has the youngest population (median age 40.2).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k 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 | Troy | Williston | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,005Lowest |
10,144Highest |
3,216 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±5Lowest 3% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Troy and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,871±$14k 10% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$68,911±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Williston and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $266,600±$39k 20% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,024±$331 28% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,019±$263Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,229 68% above U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$4,226Lowest 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.1%±27.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williston and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 4% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Lancaster 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 | #107 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Monadnock Regional School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | White Mountains Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.