Compare towns
Williston vs Waterbury vs Barnard vs Stowe
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williston has the highest household income ($107k).
Waterbury has the most people working from home (28.3%).
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
Stowe has the most expensive homes ($648k 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 | Waterbury | Barnard | Stowe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
5,405 |
1,211Lowest |
5,285 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2% VT: +2.8% |
+5.3% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
46.3±7.6Highest 7% above VT |
| Stowe 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 VT: 17.9% |
21.9%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Stowe 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% |
19.8%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Stowe and Barnard 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% |
54.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.3% VT: 43.8% |
66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.8 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
1.6%±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±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$103,917±$23k 28% above VT |
$97,581±$19k 20% above VT |
$93,618±$33kLowest 15% 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±$40k 50% above VT |
$447,200±$40k 41% above VT |
$402,600±$71kLowest 27% above VT |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
| Stowe 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 |
$1,027±$535Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,372±$80 11% above VT |
$1,458±$242 18% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592Lowest 11% above VT |
$6,435 28% above VT |
$6,038 20% above VT |
$7,161Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.8%±21.7 VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8 VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| 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% VT: 10.1% |
7.9% VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% VT: 73.2% |
70.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
78.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 16% below VT |
30 minHighest 28% above VT |
29 min 21% above VT |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
28.3%±6.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Waterbury and Stowe 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 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Stowe Town School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Stowe High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.3 |
| 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.