Compare towns
Pawlet vs Waltham vs Williston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pawlet has the most affordable homes ($266k median).
Waltham has the oldest population (median age 60.8).
Williston has the most expensive homes ($476k 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 | Pawlet | Waltham | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,480 |
452Lowest |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.9±7.5 11% above VT |
60.8±7.3Highest 41% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% above VT |
| Waltham and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±7.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
45.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Williston and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,273±$14kLowest 23% below VT |
$97,500±$14k 20% above VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
| Williston and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $266,200±$44kLowest 16% below VT |
$329,700±$51k 4% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$215 7% below VT |
$1,096±$113Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,924Lowest 22% below VT |
$5,714Highest 13% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±21.3 VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±58.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Williston and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.3% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.3% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 40% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Waltham 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 | Mettawee School District #84 | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.