Compare towns
Waterbury vs Canaan 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
Waterbury has the most people working from home (28.3%).
Canaan has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
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.
| Measure | Waterbury | Canaan | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,405 |
3,811Lowest |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44.4±3.7 14% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Williston and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Waterbury and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Canaan and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,917±$23k 29% above U.S. |
$81,583±$6kLowest about the U.S. average |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Williston and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $447,200±$40k 34% above U.S. |
$254,000±$26kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Williston and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,027±$535Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,140±$90 19% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,435Highest 106% above U.S. |
$5,985 92% above U.S. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.8%±21.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±25.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canaan and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.3%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waterbury and Williston 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 | #83 of 120 in NH | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3 |
— |
| 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.