Compare towns
Williston vs Brattleboro vs White River Junction 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%).
Brattleboro has the most affordable homes ($257k median).
White River Junction has the most renters (56.1% rent).
Waterbury has the most people working from home (28.3%).
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 | Brattleboro | White River Junction | Waterbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,144 |
12,122Highest |
3,364Lowest |
5,405 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.8% VT: +2.8% |
+5.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
45.6±4.5Highest 6% above VT |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
| Brattleboro and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
19%±2.8 VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.9%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Waterbury and Williston 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% |
25.5%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Brattleboro 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
4.1%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.8 VT: 7% |
| Williston and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below VT |
$77,168±$4k 5% below VT |
$103,917±$23k 28% above VT |
| Williston and Waterbury 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 |
$257,300±$18kLowest 19% below VT |
$278,800±$78k 12% below 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 |
$1,074±$58 13% below VT |
$1,222±$216 about the VT average |
$1,027±$535Lowest 17% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592Lowest 11% above VT |
$5,700 13% above VT |
$5,651 12% above VT |
$6,435Highest 28% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±9.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.8%±21.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
17.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.1% VT: 10.1% |
7.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.5% VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
70.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1963 13 yrs older than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 16% below VT |
19 min 19% below VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
30 minHighest 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±4 VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.3%±6.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Waterbury and Williston 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 | #33 of 70 in VT | — | #20 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | None in town | Brattleboro Union High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0 |
— | — |
| 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.