Compare towns
Hartford vs Henniker vs Williston vs Randolph
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 shortest commute (18 min average).
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
Williston has the most people working from home (22.3%).
Randolph has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
Henniker is a college town. 27% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Henniker | Williston | Randolph |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736Highest |
6,197 |
10,144 |
4,843Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+27.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
31.1±6.1Lowest 20% below U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
40.4±7.4 4% 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% |
15.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±4.4 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% |
16.5%±6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Randolph 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% |
41.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
27%±6.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.2%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,125±$7k 3% below U.S. |
$95,206±$21k 18% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$76,758±$6kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Williston and Henniker 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. |
$356,700±$49k 7% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$278,700±$38kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118 14% below U.S. |
$1,081±$164Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,172±$173 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773 85% above U.S. |
$8,877Highest 185% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
$4,698Lowest 51% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.5%±22.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.1%±17.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Randolph 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% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
20 min 23% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
21 minHighest 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Henniker 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 | #56 of 120 in NH | #11 of 70 in VT | #55 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hartford School District | Henniker School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | None in town | None in town | Randolph Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Highest |
— | — | 9.4Lowest |
| 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.