Compare towns

Williston vs Barre vs Hinesburg

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Barre has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Hinesburg has the most homeowners (83.6%).

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.

MeasureWillistonBarreHinesburg
People
Population
10,144Highest
8,412
4,718Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+16.2%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-6.2%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+6.9%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
45.4±4.5
5% above VT
42.2±6.6Lowest
about the VT average
50.1±5.2Highest
16% above VT
Hinesburg and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.5%±5.2Highest
VT: 17.9%
13.5%±3.8Lowest
VT: 17.9%
18%±5.3
VT: 17.9%
Williston and Hinesburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21%±3.5
VT: 21.4%
19.4%±3.9Lowest
VT: 21.4%
25.8%±7.3Highest
VT: 21.4%
Hinesburg 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%
VT: 43.8%
36.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
64.3%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.7%±2.7Highest
VT: 7%
3.4%±1.9
VT: 7%
1.3%±1Lowest
VT: 7%
Williston and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$106,967±$12k
32% above VT
$65,625±$7kLowest
19% below VT
$112,539±$18kHighest
39% above VT
Hinesburg and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$475,800±$40kHighest
50% above VT
$210,400±$15kLowest
34% below VT
$463,400±$51k
46% above VT
Williston and Hinesburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,832±$130Highest
48% above VT
$1,093±$58Lowest
11% below VT
$1,651±$155
34% above VT
Williston and Hinesburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,592
11% above VT
$5,192Lowest
3% above VT
$7,667Highest
52% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.9%±17.4
VT: 48.4%
34.4%±10.3Lowest
VT: 48.4%
52.2%±29.4Highest
VT: 48.4%
Hinesburg 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
VT: 10.1%
17.3%Highest
VT: 10.1%
8.5%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.1%
VT: 73.2%
50.4%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
83.6%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1993Highest
17 yrs newer than VT
1947Lowest
29 yrs older than VT
1983
7 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minHighest
16% below VT
19 minLowest
21% below VT
20 min
17% below VT
Work from home
22.3%±7.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
10.5%±4.1Lowest
VT: 16.9%
19.6%±6.8
VT: 16.9%
Williston and Hinesburg 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 #19 of 70 in VT #4 of 70 in VT
School district Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56
High school in town None in town Spaulding Union High School Champlain Valley Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.7Lowest
14.5Highest
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.