What stands out worked out from the figures below

Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).

Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Williston	Portsmouth
People
Population	10,144Lowest	22,545Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S.	42.9±2Lowest 10% above U.S.
	Williston and Portsmouth 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%	14%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Williston and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Portsmouth 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	64%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Williston and Portsmouth 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.	$106,219±$7kLowest 32% above U.S.
	Williston and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$475,800±$40kLowest 43% above U.S.	$688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,832±$130Lowest 30% above U.S.	$1,869±$111Highest 32% above U.S.
	Portsmouth and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S.	$8,018Highest 157% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	50.4%±7.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Portsmouth 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%	6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	51.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S.	1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 25% below U.S.	22 minHighest 16% below U.S.
Work from home	22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	21.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Williston and Portsmouth 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	#11 of 120 in NH
School district	Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56	Portsmouth School District
High school in town	None in town	Portsmouth High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.4
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.