Compare towns
Williston vs Hancock vs Panton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williston has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Hancock has the most affordable homes ($188k median).
Panton has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
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 | Hancock | Panton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
435Lowest |
690 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -4.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
33.8±11.6Lowest 22% below VT |
42.7±3.8 about the VT average |
| Williston and Panton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
17.2%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Panton and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Williston and Hancock 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% |
34.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
35.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.6 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Williston and Hancock 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 |
$76,250±$34kLowest 6% below VT |
$86,667±$10k 7% above VT |
| Williston and Panton 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 |
$187,900±$11kLowest 41% below VT |
$438,000±$40k 38% above VT |
| Williston and Panton 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 |
$939±$19Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,410±$130 14% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592 11% above VT |
$3,511Lowest 30% below VT |
$6,695Highest 33% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
61%±39Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Panton and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.3% VT: 10.1% |
5.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% VT: 73.2% |
59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
83.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 16% below VT |
28 minHighest 17% above VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±8.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Panton 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 | — | — |
| High school 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.