Compare towns
Williston vs Sturbridge 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%).
Sturbridge has the highest household income ($137k).
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 | Sturbridge | Waterbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
9,960 |
5,405Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Waterbury and Sturbridge 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% |
19.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston and Sturbridge 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% |
49.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Sturbridge 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. |
$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
$103,917±$23kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18kLowest 28% above U.S. |
$447,200±$40k 34% above U.S. |
| 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 30% above U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$1,027±$535Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$6,520Highest 109% above U.S. |
$6,435 106% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Lowest 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.3%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waterbury and Williston 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 | #89 of 282 in MA | #20 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.