Compare towns
Essex Junction vs Hanover vs Hartford 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
Essex Junction has the most renters (40.7% rent).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% 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 | Essex Junction | Hanover | Hartford | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,803 |
11,685Highest |
10,736 |
10,144Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±3.1 about the U.S. average |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above 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 | 19.6%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Williston and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 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+ | 52.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,257±$16k 11% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,500±$20k 22% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,544±$135 9% above U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130 30% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,797 118% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,773 85% above U.S. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.3%±14.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below U.S. |
20 min 26% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
20 minHighest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover 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 | #14 of 70 in VT | #1 of 120 in NH | #34 of 70 in VT | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Hartford School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | Essex High School | Hanover High School | Hartford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Highest |
10.7 |
9.6Lowest |
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| 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.