Compare towns
Hartford vs Deerfield vs Williston vs Wilder
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1979).
Deerfield has the highest household income ($132k).
Williston has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
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 | Deerfield | Williston | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736Highest |
4,932 |
10,144 |
3,087Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
42.8±4.2Lowest 10% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9Highest 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% |
20.9%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Deerfield and Williston 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% |
17.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Highest 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% |
47.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder 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. |
$131,563±$10kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,500±$26k 8% below U.S. |
$421,000±$33k 27% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Williston and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118 14% below U.S. |
$1,593±$318 13% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Williston and Deerfield 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. |
$7,369Highest 136% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
$5,505Lowest 76% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
17.4%±17.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williston and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 30% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.4%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Deerfield 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 | #61 of 120 in NH | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Hartford School District | Deerfield School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | None in town | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6 |
— | — | — |
| 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.