Compare towns
Waterbury vs Williston vs Windham vs Middlesex
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 renters (29.4% rent).
Williston has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Windham has the highest household income ($190k).
Middlesex has the most affordable homes ($376k 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 | Windham | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,405 |
10,144 |
16,038Highest |
1,943Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7 11% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
| 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%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Waterbury 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% |
21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $103,917±$23kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $447,200±$40k 34% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,027±$535Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130 30% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,435 106% above U.S. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.8%±21.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.3%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #13 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Windham School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
— |
| 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.