Compare towns
Williston vs Durham vs Waterbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Waterbury has the most people working from home (28.3%).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Waterbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144 |
10,681Highest |
5,405Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
20.1±0.2Lowest 48% below U.S. |
43.2±3.7 11% above U.S. |
| Williston and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
6.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Waterbury and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
70.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$112,070±$25kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$103,917±$23kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Durham 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±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$498,000±$45kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$447,200±$40kLowest 34% above U.S. |
| Durham and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,302±$211 8% below U.S. |
$1,027±$535Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,435 106% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.4%±19.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.8%±21.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
53.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 25% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.3%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #20 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.