The Town FilesWaterbury, Vermont
Town in Washington County · population 5,331 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $447,200
- Household income
- $103,917
- Jan low / Jul high
- 8° / 77°
- Snow a year
- 126 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 43.2
Waterbury is a town of 5,331 people in Washington County, Vermont. The median home is worth $447,200, above the typical Vermont town ($278,700). It ranks more upscale than 96% of Vermont towns, better for young professionals than 95% of Vermont towns, better for retirees than 94% of Vermont towns.
How Waterbury ranks
Percentile among Vermont towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Vermont towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Waterbury is worth $447,200, above the typical Vermont town ($278,700). Homes cost about 4.3 times the median household income of $103,917, which is more affordable than 25% of Vermont towns. Median rent is $1,027 a month. 70.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Waterbury | Typical Vermont town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $447,200 | $278,700 |
| Median rent | $1,027 | $1,117 |
| Median household income | $103,917 | $76,895 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.3× | 3.6× |
| Homeownership | 70.6% | 81.6% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1976 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.1% | — |
Who lives in Waterbury
| People | Waterbury | Typical Vermont town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.2 | 45.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.8% | 22.2% |
| Under 18 | 21.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 54.2% | 38.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.9% | 8.6% |
| Veterans | 7.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.7% | — |
| Work from home | 28.3% | 14.9% |
| Average commute | 30.0 min | 25.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.4% | 89.3% |
Weather in Waterbury
July highs average 76.9°F and January lows 8.3°F. About 46.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 125.6 inches of snow (typical Vermont town: 84.3 in). Expect about 1 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 165 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Waterbury since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 16 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 9, 2007.
Severe weather in Washington County since 1996
Washington County has been included in 33 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 20, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4810: Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| August 8, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3609: Tropical Depression Debby |
| July 14, 2023 | Flood | DR-4720: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| July 10, 2023 | Flood | EM-3595: Flooding |
| March 20, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4695: Severe Storm And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Washington County
Washington County had 33,484 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $67,784 a year. Unemployment was 2% in 2023; in Waterbury itself the ACS puts it at 3.4%.
Public schools in Waterbury
1 public school with 409 students, about 13.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brookside Primary School | PK-4 | 409 | 13.2 |
Towns near Waterbury
- Stowe, VT7.3 mi · 5,223 people · home $647,800
- Montpelier, VT11.8 mi · 8,074 people · home $375,100
- Richmond, VT11.9 mi · 4,167 people · home $432,200
- Morristown, VT12.0 mi · 5,434 people · home $298,600
- Jericho, VT12.2 mi · 5,104 people · home $493,100
- Underhill, VT12.8 mi · 3,129 people · home $446,000
- East Montpelier, VT13.1 mi · 2,598 people · home $378,700
- Berlin, VT14.3 mi · 2,849 people · home $273,600
Waterbury questions
Is Waterbury, Vermont a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Waterbury scores better for retirees than 94% of Vermont towns and quieter than 15%. 19.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.2).
How much does a house cost in Waterbury?
The median owner-occupied home in Waterbury is valued at $447,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $103,917, so homes cost about 4.3 times income. Median rent is $1,027 a month.
What is the weather like in Waterbury?
July highs average 76.9°F and January lows 8.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.3 inches of precipitation a year and 125.6 inches of snow.
Does Waterbury get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Waterbury in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)