Compare towns
Williston vs Effingham 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 the shortest commute (20 min average).
Effingham has the most affordable homes ($323k median).
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 | Effingham | Waterbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
1,912Lowest |
5,405 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+15.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
46.9±12.4Highest 21% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Effingham 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.5Lowest 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% |
18.7%±2.5Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Waterbury 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 U.S. |
$76,607±$14kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$103,917±$23k 29% above U.S. |
| 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 43% above U.S. |
$322,700±$30kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$447,200±$40k 34% above U.S. |
| 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 30% above U.S. |
$1,090±$121 23% below U.S. |
$1,027±$535Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592 79% above U.S. |
$5,163Lowest 66% above U.S. |
$6,435Highest 106% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
13.6%±40.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.8%±21.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.2Lowest 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 | — | #20 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.