Compare towns
Middlesex vs Waterbury vs Williston vs Berlin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
Waterbury has the most renters (29.4% rent).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Berlin has the most affordable homes ($274k 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 | Middlesex | Waterbury | Williston | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943Lowest |
5,405 |
10,144Highest |
2,880 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+5.3% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
| Berlin and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
21.9%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Waterbury and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7% VT: 43.8% |
54.2% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 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 | $109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$103,917±$23k 28% above VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$86,691±$21kLowest 7% 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 | $376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$447,200±$40k 41% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$273,600±$31kLowest 14% below VT |
| Williston and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,027±$535Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,169±$171 5% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$6,435 28% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$4,418Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.8%±21.7 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Williston and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.9% VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
70.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
30 minHighest 28% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
21 min 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
28.3%±6.8 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Waterbury 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 | — | #20 of 70 in VT | #11 of 70 in VT | #16 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.