Compare towns
Waterbury vs White River Junction vs Eliot 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%).
White River Junction has the most renters (56.1% rent).
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
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 | White River Junction | Eliot | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,405 |
3,364Lowest |
7,146 |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7 11% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
| Eliot 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% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Waterbury and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot 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% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Waterbury 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. |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$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. |
$278,800±$78kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Williston 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. |
$1,222±$216 14% below U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130 30% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,435Highest 106% above U.S. |
$5,651 81% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.8%±21.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot 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% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.3%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 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 | — | #19 of 133 in ME | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | — | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | 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 | 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.