Compare towns

Tunbridge vs Waterbury vs Williston

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Tunbridge has the most affordable homes ($315k median).
Waterbury has the most people working from home (28.3%).
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.

MeasureTunbridgeWaterburyWilliston
People
Population
1,253Lowest
5,405
10,144Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+5.3%
VT: +2.8%
+16.2%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
42.7±8.3Lowest
about the VT average
43.2±3.7
about the VT average
45.4±4.5Highest
5% above VT
Williston and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.1%±4.4
VT: 17.9%
21.9%±4.9Highest
VT: 17.9%
20.5%±5.2Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Waterbury and Tunbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.9%±1.6
VT: 21.4%
19.8%±4.4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
21%±3.5Highest
VT: 21.4%
Williston and Tunbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
42.9%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
54.2%
VT: 43.8%
54.9%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±2
VT: 7%
3.4%±2.8Lowest
VT: 7%
5.7%±2.7Highest
VT: 7%
Williston and Tunbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$89,464±$26kLowest
10% above VT
$103,917±$23k
28% above VT
$106,967±$12kHighest
32% above VT
Williston and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$315,300±$23kLowest
about the VT average
$447,200±$40k
41% above VT
$475,800±$40kHighest
50% above VT
Williston and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,346±$128
9% above VT
$1,027±$535Lowest
17% below VT
$1,832±$130Highest
48% above VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,645Lowest
8% below VT
$6,435Highest
28% above VT
$5,592
11% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
76.7%±100Highest
VT: 48.4%
46.8%±21.7Lowest
VT: 48.4%
46.9%±17.4
VT: 48.4%
Tunbridge and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
14.4%Highest
VT: 10.1%
7.9%
VT: 10.1%
4.3%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.2%Highest
VT: 73.2%
70.6%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
75.1%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Lowest
5 yrs newer than VT
1983
7 yrs newer than VT
1993Highest
17 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
31% above VT
30 min
28% above VT
20 minLowest
16% below VT
Work from home
25.8%±8.2
VT: 16.9%
28.3%±6.8Highest
VT: 16.9%
22.3%±7.6Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Waterbury and Tunbridge 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
School district First Branch Unified School District #82 Harwood Unified Union School District #60 Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56
High school in town None 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.