Compare towns
Durham vs Hartford vs Pomfret vs Williston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k median).
Pomfret has the most people working from home (30.3%).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Hartford | Pomfret | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
10,736 |
908Lowest |
10,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
53.4±12.1Highest 37% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
| Pomfret and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±6 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Williston and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.5%±6.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pomfret and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
58% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$84,229±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
| Durham and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$399,200±$144k 20% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
| Durham and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,218±$118 14% below U.S. |
$1,170±$98Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,773 85% above U.S. |
$6,722 116% above U.S. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
24%±22.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 11% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.3%±10.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pomfret 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #34 of 70 in VT | — | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Hartford School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | Hartford High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
9.6Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | 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.