Compare towns
Waterford vs Windsor vs Groton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waterford has the highest household income ($109k).
Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.2%).
Groton has the oldest population (median age 45.7).
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 | Waterford | Windsor | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,279 |
3,554Highest |
967Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% VT: +2.8% |
+0.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±5.3 5% above VT |
44.8±6.5Lowest 4% above VT |
45.7±5.8Highest 6% above VT |
| Groton and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5 VT: 17.9% |
19.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.3%±2.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Windsor and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.5%±3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Windsor and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.7% VT: 43.8% |
38.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
7.5%±5.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Groton and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $109,375±$19kHighest 35% above VT |
$52,484±$11kLowest 35% below VT |
$77,250±$14k 5% below VT |
| Waterford and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,500±$22kHighest 14% below VT |
$207,500±$31kLowest 34% below VT |
$243,000±$70k 23% below VT |
| Waterford and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,026±$89Highest 17% below VT |
$288±$151Lowest 77% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,238 16% below VT |
$5,209Highest 3% above VT |
$3,659Lowest 27% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 31.5%±17Highest VT: 48.4% |
12.5%±72.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Windsor and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7% VT: 10.1% |
7.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 99%Highest VT: 73.2% |
57.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 4% above VT |
23 minLowest 3% below VT |
30 minHighest 29% above VT |
| Work from home | 15.3%±7.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.3%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7 VT: 16.9% |
| Waterford and Groton 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 | — | #61 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.