Compare towns

Williston vs Windham vs Stowe 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

Windham has the highest household income ($190k).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
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.

MeasureWillistonWindhamStoweWaterbury
People
Population
10,144
16,038Highest
5,285Lowest
5,405
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+16.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+21.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.4±4.5
17% above U.S.
41.1±2.9Lowest
6% above U.S.
46.3±7.6Highest
19% above U.S.
43.2±3.7
11% above U.S.
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
U.S.: 22%
27.4%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
22.5%±4.6
U.S.: 22%
21.9%±4.9
U.S.: 22%
Windham and Stowe 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%
15.5%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
25.8%±6.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±4.4
U.S.: 17.2%
Stowe 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
62.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
66.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
54.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.7%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
1.6%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.4%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Williston and Windham 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.
$189,583±$19kHighest
135% above U.S.
$93,618±$33kLowest
16% above U.S.
$103,917±$23k
29% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$475,800±$40k
43% above U.S.
$723,300±$50kHighest
117% above U.S.
$647,800±$157k
95% above U.S.
$447,200±$40kLowest
34% above U.S.
Windham and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,832±$130
30% above U.S.
$3,218±$350Highest
128% above U.S.
$1,458±$242
3% above U.S.
$1,027±$535Lowest
27% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,592Lowest
79% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$7,161
130% above U.S.
$6,435
106% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.9%±17.4
U.S.: 51.1%
52.2%±50.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
24.5%±15.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.8%±21.7
U.S.: 51.1%
Windham and Williston 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%
2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
9.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
93.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
78.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
70.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1993
13 yrs newer than U.S.
1996Highest
16 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 min
25% below U.S.
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
30 min
14% above U.S.
Work from home
22.3%±7.6
U.S.: 15.1%
21.9%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
24.4%±8.9
U.S.: 15.1%
28.3%±6.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
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 #13 of 120 in NH — #20 of 70 in VT
School district Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 Windham School District Stowe Town School District Harwood Unified Union School District #60
High school in town None in town Windham High School Stowe High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.8Highest
11.3Lowest
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On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet 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.