Compare towns
Williston vs Barnard vs Middlesex vs Waterbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
Waterbury has the most renters (29.4% rent).
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 | Williston | Barnard | Middlesex | Waterbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
1,211Lowest |
1,943 |
5,405 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
| Williston and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
21.9%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Barnard and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9% VT: 43.8% |
55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
54.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.8 VT: 7% |
| 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 | $106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$97,581±$19kLowest 20% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% 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 | $475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$402,600±$71k 27% above VT |
$376,300±$40kLowest 19% 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 | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,372±$80 11% above VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,027±$535Lowest 17% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592Lowest 11% above VT |
$6,038 20% above VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$6,435 28% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest 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 | 4.3% VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
3.8% VT: 10.1% |
7.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% VT: 73.2% |
85.4% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
70.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 16% below VT |
29 min 21% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
30 minHighest 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest 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 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | None 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.