Compare towns
Fayston vs Williston vs Waitsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fayston has the most homeowners (87%).
Williston has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
Waitsfield has the oldest population (median age 74.8).
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 | Fayston | Williston | Waitsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,342 |
10,144Highest |
193Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 46.9±3.5 9% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% above VT |
74.8±13.4Highest 74% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
0%±14.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Fayston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
71.5%±17.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.9% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
71.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±9.1 VT: 7% |
| Williston and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,250±$28kHighest 36% above VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$26,384±$5kLowest 68% below VT |
| Fayston and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $502,400±$82kHighest 59% above VT |
$475,800±$40k 50% above VT |
$453,100±$98kLowest 43% above VT |
| Fayston and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,654±$274Lowest 34% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
— |
| Williston and Fayston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,689Highest 33% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$4,688Lowest 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.3%±27.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.1%±49.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Williston and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.2% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
33.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 25% above VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
14 minLowest 40% below VT |
| Work from home | 26.2%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
31%±23.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Waitsfield and Fayston 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 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.