Compare towns

Williston vs Reading vs Jericho 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%).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
Jericho has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Waterbury has the most affordable homes ($447k median).

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.

MeasureWillistonReadingJerichoWaterbury
People
Population
10,144
25,612Highest
5,114Lowest
5,405
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+16.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.4±4.5
17% above U.S.
43.7±2.3
12% above U.S.
49.7±5.1Highest
28% above U.S.
43.2±3.7Lowest
11% above U.S.
Jericho 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%
22.8%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.5%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.9%±4.9
U.S.: 22%
Reading and Waterbury 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%
20.7%±2.3
U.S.: 17.2%
20.2%±4.4
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Williston and Reading 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%
66.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
65.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
54.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.7%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±0.7
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.6Lowest
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±$12k
32% above U.S.
$165,912±$13kHighest
106% above U.S.
$116,923±$16k
45% above U.S.
$103,917±$23kLowest
29% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$475,800±$40k
43% above U.S.
$809,000±$22kHighest
143% above U.S.
$493,100±$38k
48% above U.S.
$447,200±$40kLowest
34% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,832±$130
30% above U.S.
$1,991±$273Highest
41% above U.S.
$1,731±$111
23% above U.S.
$1,027±$535Lowest
27% below U.S.
Reading and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,592Lowest
79% above U.S.
$9,320Highest
199% above U.S.
$7,318
135% above U.S.
$6,435
106% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.9%±17.4
U.S.: 51.1%
27.8%±9.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
79.3%±52.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.8%±21.7
U.S.: 51.1%
Jericho and Williston 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%
3.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
0.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
82.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
92.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
70.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1993Highest
13 yrs newer than U.S.
1960Lowest
20 yrs older than U.S.
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minLowest
25% below U.S.
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
30 min
14% above U.S.
Work from home
22.3%±7.6
U.S.: 15.1%
30.2%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.8%±6.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
28.3%±6.8
U.S.: 15.1%
Reading 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 #50 of 282 in MA #6 of 70 in VT #20 of 70 in VT
School district Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 Reading Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 Harwood Unified Union School District #60
High school in town None in town Reading Memorial High Mt. Mansfield Union High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.1Lowest
13.0Highest
—
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.