Compare towns
Williston vs Pawlet vs Waltham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williston has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
Pawlet has the most affordable homes ($266k median).
Waltham has the oldest population (median age 60.8).
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 | Pawlet | Waltham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
1,480 |
452Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5Lowest 5% above VT |
47.9±7.5 11% above VT |
60.8±7.3Highest 41% above VT |
| Waltham and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.3%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±7.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
45.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
4.4%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Williston and Pawlet 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 VT |
$62,273±$14kLowest 23% below VT |
$97,500±$14k 20% above VT |
| Williston and Waltham 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 |
$266,200±$44kLowest 16% below VT |
$329,700±$51k 4% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,153±$215 7% below VT |
$1,096±$113Lowest 11% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592 11% above VT |
$3,924Lowest 22% below VT |
$5,714Highest 13% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.6%±21.3 VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±58.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Williston and Pawlet 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% |
10%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 16% below VT |
33 minHighest 40% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.4%±8.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Waltham 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 | — | — |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Mettawee School District #84 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.