Compare towns
Williston vs Shaftsbury vs Hoosick
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%).
Shaftsbury has the most kids (26.5% under 18).
Hoosick has the most affordable homes ($177k 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.
| Measure | Williston | Shaftsbury | Hoosick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
3,607Lowest |
6,671 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
43±6.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44.9±5.5 15% above U.S. |
| Williston and Hoosick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Shaftsbury and Hoosick 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% |
21.8%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hoosick and Shaftsbury 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
40.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Hoosick 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. |
$86,071±$24k 7% above U.S. |
$63,372±$21kLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Williston and Shaftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$267,300±$24k 20% below U.S. |
$177,200±$21kLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,079±$54 24% below U.S. |
$881±$148Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$4,015Lowest 29% above U.S. |
$4,071 31% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.7%±36Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43%±13.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Shaftsbury 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% |
9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Hoosick 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 | #62 of 70 in VT | #62 of 484 in NY |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | HOOSICK FALLS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | HOOSICK FALLS HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.