Compare towns
Hartford vs Holderness 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 shortest commute (18 min average).
Holderness has the most homeowners (83.7%).
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 | Holderness | Williston | Brattleboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736 |
1,917Lowest |
10,144 |
12,122Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
39.4±7.4Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
45.6±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Brattleboro 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%±9.3Lowest 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% |
31.4%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Holderness 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% |
55.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest 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. |
$107,863±$45kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Holderness and Williston 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. |
$363,100±$60k 9% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$257,300±$18kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118 14% below U.S. |
$2,068±$385Highest 46% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130 30% above U.S. |
$1,074±$58Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Holderness 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. |
$3,923Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
$5,700 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.5%±21.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±9.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1% 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% |
83.7%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. |
1981 1 yr newer 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. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±4.1Lowest 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | #33 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hartford School District | Holderness School District | 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.