Compare towns
Williston vs Middlesex vs Gorham 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%).
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
Gorham has the youngest population (median age 39.4).
Waterbury has the most renters (29.4% rent).
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 | Middlesex | Gorham | Waterbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,144 |
1,943Lowest |
18,300Highest |
5,405 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.2±3.7 11% above U.S. |
| Williston and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Waterbury and Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston and Middlesex 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% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$103,917±$23kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Middlesex 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. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
$447,200±$40k 34% above U.S. |
| Williston and Gorham 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. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,680±$355 19% above U.S. |
$1,027±$535Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Williston and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592 79% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,825Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$6,435 106% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.3%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Waterbury 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 | — | #24 of 133 in ME | #20 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Gorham Public Schools | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Gorham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.