Compare towns
Williston vs Ayer vs South Burlington
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 the oldest population (median age 45.4).
Ayer has the oldest housing (typical home built 1977).
South Burlington has the most renters (38.4% rent).
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 | Ayer | South Burlington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144 |
8,645Lowest |
20,756Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8 about the U.S. average |
38.2±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Williston and Ayer 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% |
20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
19%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Williston and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston and South Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
67.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.5%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| South Burlington and Williston 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. |
$101,875±$15kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$106,667±$13k 32% above U.S. |
| Williston and South Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
$443,400±$19kLowest 33% above U.S. |
| Williston and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,415±$180Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,787±$59 26% above U.S. |
| Williston and South Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592 79% above U.S. |
$5,057Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$6,674Highest 114% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±7.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williston and Ayer 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% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
61.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 25% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 33% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Ayer 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 | #113 of 282 in MA | #12 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Ayer Shirley School District | South Burlington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | South Burlington High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5Highest |
11.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.