Compare towns
Waterbury vs Cornish vs Middlesex 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 renters (29.4% rent).
Cornish has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
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 | Cornish | Middlesex | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,405 |
1,816Lowest |
1,943 |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
| Cornish and Williston 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% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Waterbury and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornish and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $103,917±$23k 29% above U.S. |
$91,821±$2kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Williston 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. |
$296,000±$69kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above 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. |
$1,221±$227 14% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,435 106% above U.S. |
$5,796 86% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.8%±21.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williston and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.3%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 |
| School district | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Cornish School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.