Compare towns
Eliot vs Hartford vs Williston vs Dover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
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 | Eliot | Hartford | Williston | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146Lowest |
10,736 |
10,144 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Eliot and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 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+ | 27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
| Williston and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130 30% above U.S. |
$1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$5,773 85% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Dover 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #34 of 70 in VT | #11 of 70 in VT | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Hartford School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Dover School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hartford High School | None in town | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.6Lowest |
— | 12.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.