Compare towns

Williston vs Meredith 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%).
Meredith has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
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.

MeasureWillistonMeredithWaterbury
People
Population
10,144Highest
6,758
5,405Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+16.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.4±4.5
17% above U.S.
55.5±3.7Highest
43% above U.S.
43.2±3.7Lowest
11% above U.S.
Kids under 18
20.5%±5.2
U.S.: 22%
12.6%±3.3Lowest
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%±3.5
U.S.: 17.2%
34.2%±5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
54.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
45.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
54.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.7%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±1.2Lowest
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.
$87,019±$19kLowest
8% above 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±$40k
43% above U.S.
$480,100±$48kHighest
44% above U.S.
$447,200±$40kLowest
34% above U.S.
Meredith 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.
$1,149±$304
19% below U.S.
$1,027±$535Lowest
27% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,592
79% above U.S.
$5,006Lowest
61% above U.S.
$6,435Highest
106% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.9%±17.4
U.S.: 51.1%
48.5%±9.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.8%±21.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Meredith 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%
7.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
75.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
70.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1993Highest
13 yrs newer than U.S.
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minLowest
25% below U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
30 minHighest
14% above U.S.
Work from home
22.3%±7.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.7%±4.9
U.S.: 15.1%
28.3%±6.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Waterbury and Meredith 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 #62 of 120 in NH #20 of 70 in VT
School district Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District Harwood Unified Union School District #60
High school in town None in town Inter-Lakes High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.1
—
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.