Compare towns

Williston vs St. Johnsbury

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%).
St. Johnsbury has the most affordable homes ($178k 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.

MeasureWillistonSt. Johnsbury
People
Population
10,144Highest
7,368Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+16.2%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-3.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
45.4±4.5Highest
5% above VT
42.8±3.8Lowest
about the VT average
Williston and St. Johnsbury 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%±2.9Highest
VT: 17.9%
St. Johnsbury and Williston 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%
21.1%±3.6Highest
VT: 21.4%
St. Johnsbury 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%
30.3%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.7%±2.7Highest
VT: 7%
5.6%±2.2Lowest
VT: 7%
Williston and St. Johnsbury 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
$57,738±$9kLowest
29% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$475,800±$40kHighest
50% above VT
$177,700±$17kLowest
44% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,832±$130Highest
48% above VT
$914±$44Lowest
26% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,592Highest
11% above VT
$3,916Lowest
22% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.9%±17.4Lowest
VT: 48.4%
48%±11Highest
VT: 48.4%
St. Johnsbury 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
VT: 10.1%
16.8%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.1%Highest
VT: 73.2%
59.6%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1993Highest
17 yrs newer than VT
1944Lowest
32 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minHighest
16% below VT
20 minLowest
17% below VT
Work from home
22.3%±7.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
17.6%±4.8Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Williston and St. Johnsbury 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 #60 of 70 in VT
School district Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 —
High school in town None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.