Compare towns
Hartford vs Keene vs Dover 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
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Keene | Dover | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736 |
22,939 |
33,364Highest |
10,144Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
37.6±2.3 3% below U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below 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% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest 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%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest 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% |
44.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$78,445±$8k about the U.S. average |
$94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Williston and Dover 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. |
$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Williston and Dover 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. |
$1,342±$68 5% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Williston and Dover 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. |
$6,812 118% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover 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% |
10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 30% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Dover 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hartford School District | Keene School District | Dover School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | Keene High School | Dover Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
12.3 |
12.7Highest |
— |
| 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.