Compare towns
Hartford vs Dover vs Portsmouth 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 most affordable homes ($305k median).
Dover has the youngest population (median age 36.9).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
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 | Dover | Portsmouth | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736 |
33,364Highest |
22,545 |
10,144Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
42.9±2 10% 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 | 18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
14%±1.9Lowest 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%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hartford and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
64%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 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 | $78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$106,219±$7k 32% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Williston and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,869±$111Highest 32% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130 30% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth and Williston 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. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$8,018 157% above U.S. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±7.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Portsmouth and Dover 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% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Portsmouth 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hartford School District | Dover School District | Portsmouth School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | Dover Senior High School | Portsmouth High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
12.7Highest |
11.4 |
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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.