Compare towns
Williston vs Reading vs Cavendish vs Waterbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Cavendish has the most affordable homes ($285k 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 | Reading | Cavendish | Waterbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
699Lowest |
1,242 |
5,405 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
45.2±5.9 5% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
| Reading 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 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±4.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.9%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| 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 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±2 VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Cavendish 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 VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
39.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.8 VT: 7% |
| Williston and Cavendish 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 |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above VT |
$89,063±$29k 10% above VT |
$103,917±$23k 28% above VT |
| 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 50% above VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$285,100±$40kLowest 10% below VT |
$447,200±$40k 41% above VT |
| 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 48% above VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,000±$546Lowest 19% below VT |
$1,027±$535 17% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592 11% above VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$3,948Lowest 22% below VT |
$6,435Highest 28% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.8%±21.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading 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 VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
7.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.3% VT: 73.2% |
70.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 16% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
30 min 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.3%±6.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Waterbury and Reading 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 18 photos → | 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.