Compare towns
Waterbury vs Walpole 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%).
Walpole has the most affordable homes ($320k 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 | Walpole | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,405 |
3,690Lowest |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
46.5±10.4Highest 20% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
| Walpole and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Walpole and Waterbury 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% |
25.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Walpole 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% |
32.9%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% |
4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Walpole 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. |
$82,617±$16kLowest 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. |
$319,800±$48kLowest 4% 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. |
$1,165±$150 18% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,435Highest 106% above U.S. |
$6,078 95% above U.S. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.8%±21.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Walpole 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% |
11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.3%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest 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 | #27 of 120 in NH | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.