Compare towns
Williston vs Sunapee vs Gilford
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%).
Sunapee has the oldest population (median age 56.7).
Gilford has the most homeowners (93.1%).
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 | Sunapee | Gilford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
3,416Lowest |
7,830 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5Lowest 17% above U.S. |
56.7±1.4Highest 46% above U.S. |
48.2±3.9 24% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Gilford and Williston 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% |
33.3%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Sunapee 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 U.S. |
$101,393±$20kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$116,635±$11kHighest 44% above U.S. |
| Gilford 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 43% above U.S. |
$393,000±$51kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$456,500±$56k 37% above U.S. |
| Williston and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,713±$451 21% above U.S. |
$1,150±$747Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Williston and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$4,868 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
34.6%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.2%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gilford 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% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Gilford 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 | #14 of 120 in NH | #45 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Sunapee School District | Gilford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Sunapee Sr. High School | Gilford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
11.5Lowest |
| 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.