Compare towns
Waitsfield vs Windham vs Williston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waitsfield has the most affordable homes ($422k median).
Windham has the highest household income ($190k).
Williston has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Waitsfield | Windham | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,918Lowest |
16,038Highest |
10,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.3 14% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Williston and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.8%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Waitsfield and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 63.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $84,375±$34kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $422,400±$92kLowest 27% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$821Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130 30% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,208 99% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±30.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Windham 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 | — | #13 of 120 in NH | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Windham School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.