Compare towns
Colchester vs Middlesex vs Williston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Colchester has the youngest population (median age 39.3).
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Colchester | Middlesex | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,648Highest |
1,943Lowest |
10,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.4Lowest 9% below VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
| Williston and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 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+ | 17.9%±2.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Williston and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.9%±1.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,891±$9kLowest 21% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above 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 | $394,400±$25k 25% above VT |
$376,300±$40kLowest 19% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,474±$122 19% above VT |
$1,333±$359Lowest 8% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,471Lowest 9% above VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.2%±10.6 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Williston and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 15% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 19%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 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 | #18 of 70 in VT | — | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Colchester School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | Colchester High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.