Compare towns
Barnard vs Hartford vs Williston vs Calais
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Calais has the most homeowners (92.4%).
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 | Barnard | Hartford | Williston | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,211Lowest |
10,736Highest |
10,144 |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% VT: +2.8% |
+7.4% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6 about the VT average |
43.2±3.9 about the VT average |
45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Williston and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
18%±3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
22.5%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Hartford and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3% VT: 43.8% |
47.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
4.9%±1.7 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Calais and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,581±$19k 20% above VT |
$78,125±$7kLowest 4% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
| Williston and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $402,600±$71k 27% above VT |
$304,500±$26kLowest 4% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
| Williston and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$80 11% above VT |
$1,218±$118Lowest about the VT average |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,408±$392 14% above VT |
| Williston and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038 20% above VT |
$5,773 15% above VT |
$5,592Lowest 11% above VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±12.7 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% VT: 73.2% |
67.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 21% above VT |
18 minLowest 22% below VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Calais 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 | — | #34 of 70 in VT | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Hartford School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Hartford High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.6 |
— | — |
| 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.