Compare towns
Waterbury vs Windham vs Middlesex 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 renters (29.4% rent).
Windham has the youngest population (median age 41.8).
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
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 | Windham | Middlesex | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,405 |
19,188Highest |
1,943Lowest |
10,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7 11% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% 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%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Waterbury and Middlesex 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% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Highest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest 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. |
$107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Windham 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. |
$388,900±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above 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. |
$1,232±$332 13% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,435 106% above U.S. |
$3,938Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.8%±21.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.3%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 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 | #95 of 133 in ME | — | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | RSU 14 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.