Compare towns
Durham vs Hartford vs Williston vs Durham
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 highest household income ($124k).
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Durham has the most renters (46.4% rent).
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 | Williston | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
10,736 |
10,144Lowest |
10,681 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3 47% below U.S. |
43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
20.1±0.2Lowest 48% below U.S. |
| Williston and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
6.5%±2Lowest 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%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
70.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$112,070±$25k 39% above U.S. |
| Durham and Durham 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. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$498,000±$45k 50% above U.S. |
| Durham and Durham 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±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,302±$211 8% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,773 85% above U.S. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.4%±19.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Durham 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% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
53.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below U.S. |
18 min 30% below U.S. |
20 minHighest 25% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Durham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Hartford School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | Hartford High School | 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.