Compare towns
Williston vs Worcester vs Fairfax
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 shortest commute (20 min average).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Fairfax has the highest household income ($129k).
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 | Worcester | Fairfax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
831Lowest |
5,226 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
38.8±3.3Lowest 10% below VT |
| Worcester 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% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfax and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Williston and Worcester 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% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
49.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
4.3%±2.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Worcester 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 |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
| Fairfax 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 |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$378,200±$22k 19% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,080±$131 12% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$5,497 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±33.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Williston and Fairfax 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% |
5.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993 17 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 16% below VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Fairfax and Worcester 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 | — | #36 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Fairfax School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8 |
| 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.