Compare towns
Hartford vs Hooksett vs Dracut 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).
Hooksett has the highest household income ($118k).
Dracut has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
Williston has the most people working from home (22.3%).
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 | Hooksett | Dracut | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736 |
15,057 |
32,574Highest |
10,144Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.7±2 7% 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% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Dracut and Williston 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% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hartford and Williston 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% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett 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. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$114,036±$10k 41% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Dracut 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. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$473,900±$17k 42% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Williston and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,839±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130 30% above U.S. |
| Dracut 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. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$5,375Lowest 72% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dracut and Williston 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% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Hartford 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #201 of 282 in MA | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hartford School District | Hooksett School District | Dracut | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | None in town | Dracut Senior High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
— | 12.9Highest |
— |
| 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.