Compare towns
Williston vs Waterbury vs Meredith
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%).
Waterbury has the most people working from home (28.3%).
Meredith has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
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 | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
5,405Lowest |
6,758 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 U.S. |
$103,917±$23k 29% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| 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 43% above U.S. |
$447,200±$40kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$480,100±$48kHighest 44% above U.S. |
| Meredith 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 30% above U.S. |
$1,027±$535Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,149±$304 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592 79% above U.S. |
$6,435Highest 106% above U.S. |
$5,006Lowest 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.8%±21.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Meredith 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.3%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waterbury and Meredith 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 | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.