Compare towns
Williston vs Reading 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%).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k 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 | Reading | South Burlington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144Lowest |
25,612Highest |
20,756 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
38.2±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Williston and Reading 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% |
22.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Reading and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston and Reading 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% |
66.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
67.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest 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±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$165,912±$13kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$106,667±$13kLowest 32% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$443,400±$19kLowest 33% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130 30% above U.S. |
$1,991±$273Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,787±$59Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Reading 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. |
$9,320Highest 199% above U.S. |
$6,674 114% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
61.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 25% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 33% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | #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.