Compare towns
Worcester vs Williston vs Arlington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Arlington has the most people working from home (35.9%).
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 | Worcester | Williston | Arlington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 831Lowest |
10,144Highest |
2,598 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
37.6±4Lowest 13% 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 | 12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Arlington and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Williston and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
55.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.7Lowest 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 | $73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$102,308±$11k 26% above VT |
| Williston and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$318,500±$59k about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,191±$172 3% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$4,549 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 5.9% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 22% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
20 min 13% below VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Arlington 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 | #50 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Arlington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Arlington Memorial |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6 |
| 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.