Compare towns
Williston vs Castleton vs Braintree 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%).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
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 | Castleton | Braintree | Waterbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
4,453 |
1,026Lowest |
5,405 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+5.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest 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% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.8 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$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 |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% 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 |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,027±$535 17% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592 11% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,908 22% below VT |
$6,435Highest 28% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.8%±21.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
7.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
81%Highest VT: 73.2% |
70.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 16% below VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
30 minHighest 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | — | #20 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | 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.