Compare towns
White River Junction vs Williston vs Sharon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
White River Junction has the most renters (56.1% rent).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Sharon has the most homeowners (79.7%).
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 | White River Junction | Williston | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,364 |
10,144Highest |
1,577Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
45.6±7.7Highest 6% above VT |
| Sharon and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
21%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sharon and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Sharon and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.9% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,168±$4kLowest 5% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$84,375±$17k 4% above VT |
| Williston and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,800±$78kLowest 12% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$346,700±$37k 10% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,222±$216Lowest about the VT average |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,386±$155 12% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,651 12% above VT |
$5,592Lowest 11% above VT |
$5,903Highest 17% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Williston and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
79.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 35% below VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
26 minHighest 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and White River Junction 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 | Sharon School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.