Compare towns
Williston vs Sandgate vs Pawlet
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 most expensive homes ($476k median).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
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 | Sandgate | Pawlet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
435Lowest |
1,480 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5Lowest 5% above VT |
55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
47.9±7.5 11% above VT |
| Sandgate and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±7.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.3%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26%±11.3 VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Pawlet and Sandgate 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% |
37.8% VT: 43.8% |
37.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
4.4%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Williston and Pawlet 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 |
$69,167±$19k 15% below VT |
$62,273±$14kLowest 23% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$193,800±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
$266,200±$44k 16% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
— | $1,153±$215Lowest 7% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$3,924 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.6%±21.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Williston and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
10%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
1964 12 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 16% below VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
33 minHighest 40% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.4%±8.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate 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 | — | Mettawee School District #84 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.