Photo: Doug Kerr from Albany, NY, United States · CC BY-SA 2.0How is Williston run?
Williston’s town government spent $13 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2023, about $1,287 per resident. That is its newest year reported to the Census Bureau. Water and other utilities ($1.5 million) are counted separately.
What stands out about how Williston is run
Read from the town’s budget and official records.
About $1,287 per resident a year, or $3.53 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: fire, at 25%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
$1,171 per resident in 2022, close to the middle of similar towns
Williston’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,171 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 30 Vermont towns and townships of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,064, and the middle half spent $780–$1,375. Williston spent more than 60% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($2.6 million), as the Census Bureau counts them. Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →
Vermont towns and townships of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Williston itself left out).
Day-to-day spending is up 8% since 2022
Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Williston reported to the Census Bureau. Prices rose too: about 4% a year in 2022–2024.
Day-to-day spending by fiscal year
Per resident: 2022: $1,171 · 2023: $1,287.
full-time in March 2025, up from 68 in 2022.
Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.
The typical homeowner pays $5,592 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.18% of the home’s value, vs 1.59% across Vermont.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Williston’s rate.
Can I afford it? →The median bill homeowners report to the Census survey (bills of $10,000+ are reported as “$10,000+”). The effective rate is that bill ÷ the median home value: a rough guide, not the official tax rate.
Tax bills are one input to Williston’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Williston →
Most Vermont towns vote on March 2, 2027
Check Williston’s own dates: some towns hold the business session on another day or vote by ballot (SB2).
Williston’s meetings aren’t in our feed yet. The town posts agendas and minutes on its website.
Town website ↗Vermont’s Town Meeting Day is the first Tuesday in March, when towns vote on budgets and elect officers.
Some towns hold the business session on another day, and some vote by ballot (SB2). Check Williston’s site for its warrant and dates.
Who’s in charge in Williston
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
One full-time town employee for every 133 residents
On the payroll in March 2025, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2023 finance file (10,094).
By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2025
The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.
Champlain Valley Unified School District
Williston’s K–12 school district, shared with Charlotte, Hinesburg, Shelburne, St. George. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $25,896 per pupil, $15,501 goes to the classroom (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren’t in the per-pupil figure.
Vermont districts overall: 5% local, 89% state, 6% federal.
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
How Williston voted in 2024
Official results for Williston’s own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat73.0%5,029 votes
Donald J TrumpRepublican23.9%1,644 votesOthers: 3.2% (219 votes).
Most votes in Williston: Kamala D Harris
Chittenden County: Harris 74.6%, Trump 21.5% · Vermont: Harris 63.8%, Trump 32.3%
of Williston’s 7,994 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Vermont: 71%.
Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).
Most votes in Williston: Bernie Sanders
Chittenden County: Sanders 73.3%, Malloy 23.0% · Vermont: Sanders 63.2%, Malloy 32.1%
Most votes in Williston: Phil Scott
Chittenden County: Scott 69.2%, Charlestin 27.6% · Vermont: Scott 73.4%, Charlestin 21.8%
Most votes in the district: Becca Balint
Whole-district result
President, 2024: Williston, its county and the state
| Harris | Trump | Others | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Williston | 73.0% | 23.9% | 3.2% | 6,892 |
| Chittenden County | 74.6% | 21.5% | 3.8% | 97,329 |
| Vermont | 63.8% | 32.3% | 3.9% | 369,422 |
Official 2024 general election returns, as certified (MIT Election Data + Science Lab). Percentages are of votes for candidates; blank and spoiled ballots aren’t counted. Candidates are listed by votes, and party colors are neutral on purpose.
Portraits: Kamala D Harris: official vice-presidential portrait, Lawrence Jackson, The White House, 2021; Donald J Trump: official portrait, Shealah Craighead, The White House, 2017. All are U.S. government works in the public domain. A race shows photos only when every candidate has an official portrait; otherwise every candidate in it gets initials.
From town hall to Washington
Every level of government that speaks for Williston.
- 1Your townTown governmentOfficials: ci.burlington.vt.us ↗
- 2Vermont HouseWilliston is split between 2 districts
- 3Vermont SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Vermont
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
How Williston compares with the towns next door
Williston spent $1,171 per resident in 2022; the 4 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $732 to $1,528. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.
| Town | Day-to-day, per resident (2022) | Tax bill |
|---|---|---|
| Essex | $732 | $6,602 |
| Richmond | $909 | $6,868 |
| Essex Junction | $1,260 | $6,797 |
| South Burlington | $1,528 | $6,674 |
| Jericho | estimate | $7,318 |
| St. George | estimate | $5,514 |
| Williston | $1,171 | $5,592 |
Day-to-day spending in 2022, the last year every government was counted, for governments that reported it; hospital and utilities left out. Tax bill: the typical homeowner’s bill (Census ACS, 2020–24).
Reach Williston’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Williston’s government
How much does Williston spend per resident?
About $1,287 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2023, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $1,171 was more than 60% of 30 Vermont towns and townships of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Williston?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $5,592 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.18% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.59% across Vermont. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see ci.burlington.vt.us.
Who runs Williston’s government?
See ci.burlington.vt.us for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Williston yet.
How did Williston vote in 2024?
For president, Kamala D Harris 73.0%, Donald J Trump 23.9% (6,892 votes, official results). Chittenden County: Harris 74.6%, Trump 21.5%. Vermont: Harris 63.8%, Trump 32.3%.
How many people work for Williston?
76 full-time and 19 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $559,773 (about $6.7M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Williston in the state legislature?
Williston is split among 2 State House districts, so your address decides. The Vermont Legislature’s lookup finds yours. Its State Senate district is District Chittenden South East (Ginny Lyons, Kesha Ram Hinsdale and Thomas Chittenden). Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
When is town meeting in Williston?
Most Vermont towns vote on the first Tuesday in March (March 2, 2027). Some hold the business session on another day or vote by ballot (SB2), so check ci.burlington.vt.us for Williston’s own dates.
Ask neighbors about Williston’s government
Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.
Budget and staff: U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Governments (2022, every government) and Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances (2023–24, a sample) and the Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll; day-to-day spending is current operations, with hospitals, utilities and airports apart. School district: Census school finance survey, 2023–24. Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 2020–24. Elections: official 2024 returns via the MIT Election Data + Science Lab; turnout uses Census citizen voting-age population (CVAP, 2020–24). Officials: Open States, names shown only with a current term (checked October 9, 2026). Districts: Census Bureau (119th Congress, 2024 state districts); legislators: Open States and congress-legislators. How Town Hall works →