Compare towns

Williston vs Burke vs Sheldon

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%).
Burke has the most people working from home (23.4%).
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($272k median).

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.

MeasureWillistonBurkeSheldon
People
Population
10,144Highest
1,317Lowest
2,267
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+16.2%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-5.8%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-2.5%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
45.4±4.5Highest
5% above VT
41.1±4.8
5% below VT
40.9±3.5Lowest
5% below VT
Williston and Burke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.5%±5.2Lowest
VT: 17.9%
23%±4
VT: 17.9%
23.7%±3.6Highest
VT: 17.9%
Sheldon and Burke 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%
21.7%±2.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
12.6%±2.3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Burke 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
VT: 43.8%
41.4%
VT: 43.8%
14.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.7%±2.7Highest
VT: 7%
3.6%±2.3
VT: 7%
2%±1.3Lowest
VT: 7%
Williston and Burke 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 VT
$87,143±$17k
7% above VT
$78,533±$25kLowest
3% below VT
Williston and Burke 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
$340,600±$18k
8% above VT
$272,400±$61kLowest
14% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,832±$130Highest
48% above VT
$938±$191Lowest
24% below VT
$1,286±$379
4% above VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,592Highest
11% above VT
$5,177
about the VT average
$3,578Lowest
29% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.9%±17.4
VT: 48.4%
74.6%±31Highest
VT: 48.4%
0%±27Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Burke 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%
10%Highest
VT: 10.1%
5.1%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.1%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
88.6%
VT: 73.2%
89%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1993Highest
17 yrs newer than VT
1981Lowest
5 yrs newer than VT
1984
8 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minLowest
16% below VT
25 minHighest
8% above VT
25 min
7% above VT
Work from home
22.3%±7.6
VT: 16.9%
23.4%±6.8Highest
VT: 16.9%
13%±3.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Burke 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 Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85
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.