Compare towns
Williston vs Wilder vs Bolton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williston has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Bolton has the youngest population (median age 36.3).
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 | Wilder | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
3,087 |
1,163Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2% VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+10.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
45.5±8.9Highest 6% above VT |
36.3±1.7Lowest 16% below VT |
| Wilder and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.9%±4 VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Bolton 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% |
27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
6.7%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Wilder 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
58.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Wilder 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 |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below VT |
$111,125±$17kHighest 37% above VT |
| Bolton 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 |
$273,200±$18kLowest 14% below VT |
$311,600±$42k about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,142±$451Lowest 7% below VT |
$1,299±$273 5% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$5,505 9% above VT |
$4,826Lowest 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
28%±30.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Williston and Wilder 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% |
9.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% VT: 73.2% |
62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1983Lowest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 16% below VT |
17 minLowest 29% below VT |
28 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±8.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Bolton and Williston 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 | — | — |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.