What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ulysses has the most affordable homes ($275k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Ulysses	Williston
People
Population	4,809Lowest	10,144Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.1±4.7Highest 24% above U.S.	45.4±4.5Lowest 17% above U.S.
	Ulysses and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.7%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Williston and Ulysses are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	21%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Ulysses and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.7%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Ulysses and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$71,400±$7kLowest 12% below U.S.	$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$274,500±$32kLowest 17% below U.S.	$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,274±$319Lowest 10% below U.S.	$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,914Highest 90% above U.S.	$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	23.5%±6.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Williston and Ulysses are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	75.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S.	1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest about the U.S. average	20 minLowest 25% below U.S.
Work from home	15.3%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Williston and Ulysses 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	#114 of 484 in NY	#11 of 70 in VT
School district	TRUMANSBURG CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56
High school in town	CHARLES O DICKERSON HIGH SCHOOL	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	9.3	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.