Compare towns
Williston vs Hinsdale vs Barre
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%).
Hinsdale has the oldest population (median age 53.3).
Barre has the most renters (49.6% 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 | Hinsdale | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
3,997Lowest |
8,412 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
53.3±10.6Highest 37% above U.S. |
42.2±6.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Hinsdale 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 U.S.: 22% |
15%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Williston and Hinsdale 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% |
28.6%±9.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hinsdale 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
12.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.5%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$69,191±$5k 14% below U.S. |
$65,625±$7kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$200,700±$19kLowest 40% below U.S. |
$210,400±$15k 37% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,050±$409Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,093±$58 23% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$4,899Lowest 57% above U.S. |
$5,192 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.8%±22.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.4%±10.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hinsdale 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 25% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 10% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #11 of 70 in VT | #110 of 120 in NH | #19 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Hinsdale School District | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center |
| High school in town | None in town | Hinsdale High School | Spaulding Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.2Lowest |
10.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.

