Compare towns
Wilder vs Middlesex vs Williston vs Waterbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
Williston has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
Waterbury has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
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 | Wilder | Middlesex | Williston | Waterbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,087 |
1,943Lowest |
10,144Highest |
5,405 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2% VT: +2.8% |
+5.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9Highest 6% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
| Wilder and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.9%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Waterbury and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Wilder and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
54.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Wilder and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,143±$9kLowest 7% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$103,917±$23k 28% above VT |
| Middlesex and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,200±$18kLowest 14% below VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$447,200±$40k 41% above VT |
| Williston and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$451 7% below VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,027±$535Lowest 17% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,505Lowest 9% above VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$6,435 28% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.8%±21.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Williston and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
7.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
70.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Lowest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1983Lowest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 29% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
30 minHighest 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
28.3%±6.8 VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | — | — | #11 of 70 in VT | #20 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.