Compare towns
Williston vs Strafford vs Royalton
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%).
Strafford has the most homeowners (88.9%).
Royalton has the most affordable homes ($263k 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 | Strafford | Royalton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
1,372Lowest |
2,752 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-0.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
43.9±10.1Lowest about the VT average |
| Strafford and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.4%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
42.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Lowest VT: 7% |
8%±4.2Highest VT: 7% |
| Royalton 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±$12k 32% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$103,938±$24kLowest 28% above VT |
| Strafford and Williston 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 |
$431,300±$40k 36% above VT |
$263,200±$73kLowest 17% below VT |
| Williston and Strafford 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 |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,040±$391Lowest 16% below VT |
| Williston and Strafford 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 |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$4,675Lowest 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
36.7%±16.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Williston and Strafford 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% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
13%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
63.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1965Lowest 11 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 16% below VT |
23 minHighest about the VT average |
20 min 13% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.8%±7.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Royalton 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 | — | #48 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Strafford School District | White River Unified School District #79 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | White River Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
| 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.