Compare towns
Williston vs Waitsfield vs Putney
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%).
Waitsfield has the most kids (23.8% under 18).
Putney has the most affordable homes ($300k 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.
| Measure | Williston | Waitsfield | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
1,918Lowest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+7.3% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
44.3±5.3 about the VT average |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
| Williston and Waitsfield 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% |
23.8%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Waitsfield 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%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Waitsfield and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9% VT: 43.8% |
63.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
3.8%±3Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$84,375±$34k 4% above VT |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
| Williston and Waitsfield 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 |
$422,400±$92k 33% above VT |
$300,000±$44kLowest 5% below VT |
| Williston and Waitsfield 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 |
$1,200±$821 about the VT average |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
| Williston and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592 11% above VT |
$6,208Highest 23% above VT |
$5,313Lowest 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.4%±30.6 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Waitsfield 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% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 16% below VT |
25 minHighest 6% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
19%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Waitsfield 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None 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.