Compare towns
Waterbury vs Putney vs Williston vs Middlesex
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 renters (29.4% rent).
Putney has the most affordable homes ($300k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
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 | Putney | Williston | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,405 |
2,622 |
10,144Highest |
1,943Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.3% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
| Williston and Middlesex 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%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Waterbury and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Williston and Middlesex 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% |
48.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $103,917±$23k 28% above VT |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
| 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 41% above VT |
$300,000±$44kLowest 5% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% 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±$535 17% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,435 28% above VT |
$5,313Lowest 5% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.8%±21.7 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.9% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 28% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 28.3%±6.8 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.