Compare towns
Waterville vs Vernon vs Johnson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Vernon has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Johnson has the most affordable homes ($169k 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 | Waterville | Vernon | Johnson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 680Lowest |
2,709 |
3,450Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
42.6±5.4 about the VT average |
30.9±6.5Lowest 28% below VT |
| Waterville and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Johnson and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
22.8%±2.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
10.8%±3.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1% VT: 43.8% |
26.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
3%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
14.4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$27k 12% below VT |
$85,682±$9kHighest 6% above VT |
$55,346±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
| Vernon and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
$285,100±$25kHighest 10% below VT |
$169,400±$62kLowest 46% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$93Highest 10% below VT |
$1,023±$214 17% below VT |
$948±$45Lowest 23% below VT |
| Waterville and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,957 21% below VT |
$5,191Highest 3% above VT |
$3,310Lowest 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
26.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
51.6%±20.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Johnson and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.5% VT: 10.1% |
12.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.2% VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 60% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
33 min 42% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3 VT: 16.9% |
6.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
8.8%±4.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Johnson and Waterville 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 | — | #30 of 70 in VT | #57 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Vernon School District | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.