Compare towns
Wardsboro vs Williston vs Newfane
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wardsboro has the most homeowners (90.4%).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
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 | Wardsboro | Williston | Newfane |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 820Lowest |
10,144Highest |
1,456 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.6±7.3 20% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% above VT |
54.4±3.9Highest 26% above VT |
| Newfane and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Newfane and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Williston and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,000±$6kLowest 24% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$66,719±$21k 18% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $299,300±$47k 5% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$284,200±$49kLowest 10% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,479±$224 20% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,266±$238Lowest about the VT average |
| Williston and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,345Lowest 14% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$5,174 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.5%±58Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Wardsboro and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 14% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane and Williston 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 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| 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 |
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.