Compare towns
Williston vs Sharon vs St. Albans
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Sharon has the most homeowners (79.7%).
St. Albans has the most renters (51% 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 | Sharon | St. Albans |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
1,577Lowest |
6,954 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.9% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
45.6±7.7Highest 6% above VT |
38.7±2Lowest 10% below VT |
| Sharon and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sharon and Williston 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% |
25.1%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
13.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Sharon 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
31.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Williston and St. Albans 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 |
$84,375±$17k 4% above VT |
$57,980±$7kLowest 29% below VT |
| Williston and Sharon 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 |
$346,700±$37k 10% above VT |
$263,400±$18kLowest 17% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,386±$155 12% above VT |
$1,150±$78Lowest 7% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592 11% above VT |
$5,903Highest 17% above VT |
$4,436Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
51.8%±11.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| St. Albans and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.3% VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
19.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% VT: 73.2% |
79.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
49%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 16% below VT |
26 minHighest 12% above VT |
23 min 4% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Sharon 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 | — | #46 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Sharon School District | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bellows Free Academy (St. Albans) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4 |
| 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.