Compare towns
Williston vs Albany vs Alstead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Albany has the most affordable homes ($248k median).
Alstead has the oldest population (median age 56).
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 | Williston | Albany | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
790Lowest |
1,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5Lowest 17% above U.S. |
46.5±9.7 20% above U.S. |
56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Alstead and Albany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.3%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Williston and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Alstead and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Albany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$67,639±$19k 16% below U.S. |
$64,526±$11kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$248,300±$68kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$271,600±$37k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,194±$112Lowest 15% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$2,554Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$5,322 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.2%±97.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alstead and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
76%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±18.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Albany 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 | — | Fall Mountain Regional 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 |
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.