Compare towns
Bolton vs Hartford vs Williston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bolton has the youngest population (median age 36.3).
Hartford has the most renters (32.2% rent).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Bolton | Hartford | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,163Lowest |
10,736Highest |
10,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1% VT: +2.8% |
+7.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.3±1.7Lowest 16% below VT |
43.2±3.9 about the VT average |
45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
| Williston and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.9%±4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18%±3 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 6.7%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.5%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Hartford and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
47.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
4.9%±1.7 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Williston and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,125±$17kHighest 37% above VT |
$78,125±$7kLowest 4% below VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
| Bolton and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $311,600±$42k about the VT average |
$304,500±$26kLowest 4% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$273 5% above VT |
$1,218±$118Lowest about the VT average |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,826Lowest 4% below VT |
$5,773Highest 15% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28%±30.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±12.7 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Williston and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 17% above VT |
18 minLowest 22% below VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±8.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Bolton 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 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Hartford School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None in town | Hartford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.6 |
— |
| 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.