Compare towns
Hartford vs Johnson vs White River Junction vs Williston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Johnson has the most affordable homes ($169k median).
White River Junction has the most renters (56.1% rent).
Williston has the most expensive homes ($476k 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 | Johnson | White River Junction | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736Highest |
3,450 |
3,364Lowest |
10,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.8% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9 about the VT average |
30.9±6.5Lowest 28% below VT |
33.7±3.2 22% below VT |
45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Johnson 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 VT: 21.4% |
10.8%±3.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| 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% VT: 43.8% |
32.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
38.9% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 VT: 7% |
14.4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,125±$7k 4% below VT |
$55,346±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
$77,168±$4k 5% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,500±$26k 4% below VT |
$169,400±$62kLowest 46% below VT |
$278,800±$78k 12% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118 about the VT average |
$948±$45Lowest 23% below VT |
$1,222±$216 about the VT average |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773Highest 15% above VT |
$3,310Lowest 34% below VT |
$5,651 12% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7 VT: 48.4% |
51.6%±20.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Johnson and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.1% VT: 10.1% |
12.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.1% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% VT: 73.2% |
58.4% VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 22% below VT |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
8.8%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and White River Junction 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 | #57 of 70 in VT | — | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hartford School District | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | None in town | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT 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.