Compare towns
Williston vs Embden 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Embden has the most affordable homes ($173k median).
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 | Embden | South Burlington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144 |
995Lowest |
20,756Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
60.6±5.1Highest 56% above U.S. |
38.2±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.2%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Williston and South Burlington 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% |
34.6%±9.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
16.2%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% |
0.4%±1.3Lowest 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. |
$56,875±$23kLowest 30% below 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. |
$173,400±$59kLowest 48% below U.S. |
$443,400±$19k 33% above U.S. |
| Williston and South Burlington 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. |
— | $1,787±$59Lowest 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. |
$1,804Lowest 42% below U.S. |
$6,674Highest 114% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±7.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williston and South Burlington 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% |
12.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
61.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as 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% |
18.7%±7.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and South Burlington 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 | — | #12 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — | South Burlington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | South Burlington High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.0 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.