Compare towns
Cambridge 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
Cambridge has the youngest population (median age 37.4).
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k median).
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 | Cambridge | Hartford | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,767Lowest |
10,736Highest |
10,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.4% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.4±1.8Lowest 13% 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 | 23%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
18%±3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Cambridge and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.4%±3.5Lowest 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+ | 50.7% VT: 43.8% |
47.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.2Lowest 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 | $72,344±$19kLowest 11% below VT |
$78,125±$7k 4% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $343,000±$38k 8% above VT |
$304,500±$26kLowest 4% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,183±$66Lowest 4% below VT |
$1,218±$118 about the VT average |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,910Lowest about the VT average |
$5,773Highest 15% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.6%±7.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±12.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Cambridge and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.7% VT: 10.1% |
11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.3% VT: 73.2% |
67.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 9 yrs newer than VT |
1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 38% above VT |
18 minLowest 22% below VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Hartford 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 | #25 of 70 in VT | #34 of 70 in VT | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Cambridge School District | 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.