Compare towns
Union vs Williston vs Hope
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Union has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Hope has the most homeowners (92.9%).
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 | Union | Williston | Hope |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,663 |
10,144Highest |
1,748Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
44.6±3.1 15% above U.S. |
| Williston and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,724±$9kLowest about the U.S. average |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$86,766±$6k 7% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,600±$42kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$373,400±$33k 12% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,179±$452Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,219±$182 14% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,276Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$3,842 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±38.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williston and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Hope 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 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Hope Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.