Compare towns
Williston vs Sandgate vs South Burlington
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 kids (20.5% under 18).
Sandgate has the most affordable homes ($194k 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 | Sandgate | South Burlington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144 |
435Lowest |
20,756Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | +13.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
38.2±1.8Lowest 11% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±7.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19%±2.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and South Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
26%±11.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Sandgate 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% VT: 43.8% |
37.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
67.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
6.5%±2Highest VT: 7% |
| 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±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$69,167±$19kLowest 15% below VT |
$106,667±$13k 31% above VT |
| Williston and South Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$193,800±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
$443,400±$19k 40% above VT |
| Williston and South Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
— | $1,787±$59Lowest 45% above VT |
| Williston and South Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592 11% above VT |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$6,674Highest 32% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±7.6 VT: 48.4% |
| 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
61.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
1989 13 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 16% below VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
18 minLowest 25% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest 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 | — | #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 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.