Compare towns
Williston vs Reading vs Waterbury vs Jericho
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 most affordable homes ($377k median).
Waterbury has the most people working from home (28.3%).
Jericho has the most homeowners (92.9%).
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 | Waterbury | Jericho |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
699Lowest |
5,405 |
5,114 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+5.3% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
49.7±5.1 15% above VT |
| Reading and Jericho 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%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.9%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.5%±4.2 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% |
19.8%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.2%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9% VT: 43.8% |
46%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.2% VT: 43.8% |
65.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.8 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| 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 VT |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above VT |
$103,917±$23k 28% above VT |
$116,923±$16kHighest 44% above VT |
| Jericho and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,800±$40k 50% above VT |
$377,200±$72kLowest 19% above VT |
$447,200±$40k 41% above VT |
$493,100±$38kHighest 56% above VT |
| Jericho 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 48% above VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,027±$535Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,731±$111 40% above VT |
| Williston and Jericho are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592Lowest 11% above VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$6,435 28% above VT |
$7,318Highest 45% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
46.8%±21.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
79.3%±52.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Jericho and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.9% VT: 10.1% |
0.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
70.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 16% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
30 min 28% above VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
28.3%±6.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.8%±6.4Lowest 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 | #6 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Mt. Mansfield Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 13.0 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.