Compare towns
Williston vs Waterbury vs Sharon
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%).
Waterbury has the most people working from home (28.3%).
Sharon has the most affordable homes ($347k 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 | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
5,405 |
1,577Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.3% VT: +2.8% |
+3.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
45.6±7.7Highest 6% above VT |
| Sharon 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%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
21%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Waterbury and Sharon 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% |
25.1%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Sharon 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.2% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.8 VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest 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 |
$84,375±$17kLowest 4% 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±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$447,200±$40k 41% above VT |
$346,700±$37kLowest 10% above VT |
| 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 48% above VT |
$1,027±$535Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,386±$155 12% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592Lowest 11% above VT |
$6,435Highest 28% above VT |
$5,903 17% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.8%±21.7 VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% VT: 73.2% |
70.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1981Lowest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 16% below VT |
30 minHighest 28% above VT |
26 min 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
28.3%±6.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | #20 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Sharon School District |
| 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.