Compare towns
Hartford vs Brattleboro vs Lebanon 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
Brattleboro has the most affordable homes ($257k median).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
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 | Hartford | Brattleboro | Lebanon | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736 |
12,122 |
14,999Highest |
10,144Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
45.6±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
38.9±3.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
| Brattleboro and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
19%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Williston and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.5%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brattleboro and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lebanon and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,125±$7k 3% below U.S. |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$98,147±$10k 22% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Williston and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,500±$26k 8% below U.S. |
$257,300±$18kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$385,400±$29k 16% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118 14% below U.S. |
$1,074±$58Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$1,744±$132 23% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Williston and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773 85% above U.S. |
$5,700 83% above U.S. |
$8,149Highest 161% above U.S. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±9.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 30% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
20 minHighest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lebanon 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 | #34 of 70 in VT | #33 of 70 in VT | #29 of 120 in NH | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hartford School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Lebanon School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | Brattleboro Union High School | Lebanon High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6 |
9.0Lowest |
11.7Highest |
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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.