Compare towns
Hartford vs Canaan vs Wilder 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
Hartford has the youngest population (median age 43.2).
Canaan has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Williston has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
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 | Canaan | Wilder | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736Highest |
3,811 |
3,087Lowest |
10,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44.4±3.7 14% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
| Wilder 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% |
14.7%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest 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+ | 22.5%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilder 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% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder and Canaan 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. |
$81,583±$6k about the U.S. average |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,500±$26k 8% below U.S. |
$254,000±$26kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$273,200±$18k 18% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118 14% below U.S. |
$1,140±$90Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,142±$451 19% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773 85% above U.S. |
$5,985Highest 92% above U.S. |
$5,505Lowest 76% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±25.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canaan and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 30% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Canaan 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 | #83 of 120 in NH | — | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hartford School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
10.3Highest |
— | — |
| 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.