Compare towns
Waterbury vs Williston vs Duxbury vs Hartford
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%).
Duxbury has the youngest population (median age 37.5).
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k 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 | Duxbury | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,405 |
10,144 |
1,548Lowest |
10,736Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.7% VT: +2.8% |
+7.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
37.5±4.4Lowest 13% below VT |
43.2±3.9 about the VT average |
| Williston and Waterbury 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% |
17.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18%±3 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%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
13%±2.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.5%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Hartford 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% VT: 43.8% |
58.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
47.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
6.5%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
4.9%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Duxbury and Williston 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 |
$105,208±$25k 30% above VT |
$78,125±$7kLowest 4% below VT |
| Williston and Duxbury 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 |
$364,600±$27k 15% above VT |
$304,500±$26kLowest 4% 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 |
$1,318±$407 7% above VT |
$1,218±$118 about the VT average |
| Williston and Duxbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,435 28% above VT |
$5,592Lowest 11% above VT |
$6,564Highest 30% above VT |
$5,773 15% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.8%±21.7 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
21.2%±21Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±12.7 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% VT: 10.1% |
2.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.6% VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
82.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1988 12 yrs newer than VT |
1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 28% above VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
18 minLowest 22% below VT |
| Work from home | 28.3%±6.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±3.6 VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest 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 | — | #34 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Hartford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Harwood Union Middle/High School | Hartford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.6 |
9.6 |
| 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.