Compare towns
Waterbury vs Williston vs Berlin
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 people working from home (28.3%).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Berlin has the most affordable homes ($274k 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 | Williston | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,405 |
10,144Highest |
2,880Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.3% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
| Berlin 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 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2Lowest 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% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin 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% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Williston and Berlin 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 |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$86,691±$21kLowest 7% 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 |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$273,600±$31kLowest 14% below 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 |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,169±$171 5% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,435Highest 28% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$4,418Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.8%±21.7 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| 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% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 28% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
21 min 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 28.3%±6.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #16 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | 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 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.