Compare towns
Hartford vs Eliot vs Williston vs Brattleboro
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).
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Brattleboro has the most affordable homes ($257k 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 | Eliot | Williston | Brattleboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736 |
7,146Lowest |
10,144 |
12,122Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
45.6±4.5 17% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Brattleboro 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% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19%±2.8 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% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Brattleboro 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% |
43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Hartford 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. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Williston and Eliot 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. |
$498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$257,300±$18kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Eliot and Williston 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. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130 30% above U.S. |
$1,074±$58Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Eliot and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773Highest 85% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
$5,700 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot 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% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 15% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Brattleboro 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #11 of 70 in VT | #33 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hartford School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | None in town | None in town | Brattleboro Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Highest |
— | — | 9.0Lowest |
| 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.