Compare towns
Williston vs Ware vs South Burlington
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%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
South Burlington has the most renters (38.4% 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 | Ware | South Burlington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144 |
10,048Lowest |
20,756Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
38.2±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Williston and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
19%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Williston and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
67.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.5%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| South Burlington 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±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$106,667±$13k 32% above U.S. |
| Williston and South Burlington 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. |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$443,400±$19k 33% above U.S. |
| Williston and South Burlington 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. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,787±$59 26% above U.S. |
| Williston and South Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592 79% above U.S. |
$4,237Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$6,674Highest 114% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±7.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware 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% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
61.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 25% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 33% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and South Burlington 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #12 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Ware | South Burlington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | South Burlington High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
11.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.