Compare towns

Williston vs Mapleton vs Appleton vs Stowe

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 the highest household income ($107k).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Appleton has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
Stowe has the most expensive homes ($648k 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.

MeasureWillistonMapletonAppletonStowe
People
Population
10,144Highest
1,884
1,360Lowest
5,285
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+16.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+21.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.4±4.5
17% above U.S.
41.8±6Lowest
7% above U.S.
49.2±7.4Highest
26% above U.S.
46.3±7.6
19% above U.S.
Appleton and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.5%±5.2
U.S.: 22%
22.2%±5.1
U.S.: 22%
15.3%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.5%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Stowe and Mapleton 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%
18.3%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.1%±9.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
25.8%±6.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Appleton and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
54.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
34.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
34.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
66.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.7%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
1.6%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Williston and Mapleton 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.
$91,731±$25k
14% above U.S.
$53,618±$19kLowest
34% below U.S.
$93,618±$33k
16% above U.S.
Williston and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$475,800±$40k
43% above U.S.
$191,800±$23kLowest
42% below U.S.
$235,600±$33k
29% below U.S.
$647,800±$157kHighest
95% above U.S.
Stowe and Williston 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.
$610±$277Lowest
57% below U.S.
$1,104±$82
22% below U.S.
$1,458±$242
3% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,592
79% above U.S.
$1,789Lowest
43% below U.S.
$3,588
15% above U.S.
$7,161Highest
130% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.9%±17.4
U.S.: 51.1%
16.7%±10.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
85.4%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
24.5%±15.9
U.S.: 51.1%
Appleton 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%
8.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
9.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
9.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
82.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
78.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1993Highest
13 yrs newer than U.S.
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1988
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 min
25% below U.S.
28 min
5% above U.S.
30 minHighest
14% above U.S.
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
Work from home
22.3%±7.6
U.S.: 15.1%
10.8%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±3.5
U.S.: 15.1%
24.4%±8.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Stowe 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 RSU 79/MSAD 01 Appleton Public Schools Stowe Town School District
High school in town None in town None in town None in town Stowe High School
Students per teacherat that high school — — —
11.3
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.