Compare towns
Cavendish vs Williston vs Middlesex vs Whitingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Whitingham has the most affordable homes ($262k median).
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 | Cavendish | Williston | Middlesex | Whitingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,242Lowest |
10,144Highest |
1,943 |
1,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9 5% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
46.4±7.1Highest 8% above VT |
| Whitingham and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±4.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.6%±2 VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Williston and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,063±$29k 10% above VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$70,625±$11kLowest 13% below VT |
| Middlesex and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $285,100±$40k 10% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$262,300±$30kLowest 17% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,000±$546 19% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,948Lowest 22% below VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,055 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.9%±27 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Whitingham and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.3% VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 21% below VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex 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 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 7.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 18 photos → | 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.