Compare towns
Waterbury vs Pomfret vs Brattleboro vs Williston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waterbury has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
Pomfret has the oldest population (median age 53.4).
Brattleboro has the most affordable homes ($257k 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 | Pomfret | Brattleboro | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,405 |
908Lowest |
12,122Highest |
10,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.3% VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
53.4±12.1Highest 24% above VT |
45.6±4.5 6% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
| Pomfret and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19%±2.8 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Waterbury and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Pomfret and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.2% VT: 43.8% |
58%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.8 VT: 7% |
1.4%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
4.1%±1.6 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Williston and Brattleboro 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 28% above VT |
$84,229±$8k 4% above VT |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below 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 | $447,200±$40k 41% above VT |
$399,200±$144k 26% above VT |
$257,300±$18kLowest 19% below 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 | $1,027±$535Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,170±$98 5% below VT |
$1,074±$58 13% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,435 28% above VT |
$6,722Highest 33% above VT |
$5,700 13% above VT |
$5,592Lowest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.8%±21.7 VT: 48.4% |
24%±22.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±9.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 7.9% VT: 10.1% |
5.8% VT: 10.1% |
17.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.6% VT: 73.2% |
81.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1970 6 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 28% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 19% below VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 28.3%±6.8 VT: 16.9% |
30.3%±10.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Pomfret 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 | — | #33 of 70 in VT | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Brattleboro Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.0 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.