Compare towns
Waterbury vs Jackson 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).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).
Middlesex has the most affordable homes ($376k 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 | Waterbury | Jackson | Middlesex | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,405 |
897Lowest |
1,943 |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+26%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
60.5±2.5Highest 56% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest 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% |
28.4%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jackson 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
67.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±3.4Lowest 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±$23kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$117,986±$46kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
| Jackson and Middlesex 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. |
$719,300±$109kHighest 116% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,027±$535Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,750±$1k 24% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Williston and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,435 106% above U.S. |
$6,001 92% 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% |
21.1%±59.9 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9%Highest 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% |
91.4% 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. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.3%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.2%±10.2Lowest 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 | Jackson 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 | 6 photos → | 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.