Compare towns
Watson vs Williston vs Martinsburg
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Watson has the most homeowners (93.5%).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Martinsburg has the shortest commute (16 min average).
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 | Watson | Williston | Martinsburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,976 |
10,144Highest |
1,189Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±5.4Lowest 12% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
44.4±5.7 14% above U.S. |
| Williston and Martinsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
21%±2.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Martinsburg and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Martinsburg and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
17.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Martinsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,864±$12kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$85,313±$9k 6% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $161,300±$18kLowest 52% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$162,200±$27k 51% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $912±$194 35% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$772±$453Lowest 45% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,510Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$2,567 18% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.5%±40.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.9%±31.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williston and Watson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
16 minLowest 38% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 4.8%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±9.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Martinsburg 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.