Compare towns
Hartford vs Kittery vs Williston vs Wilder
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 youngest population (median age 43.2).
Kittery has the oldest population (median age 46.8).
Williston has the highest household income ($107k).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
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 | Kittery | Williston | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736Highest |
10,473 |
10,144 |
3,087Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3Highest 20% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9 17% above U.S. |
| Kittery and Wilder 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%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest 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% |
26.9%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilder and Kittery 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% |
46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder 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±$7k 3% below U.S. |
$93,728±$14k 16% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Williston and Kittery 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. |
$468,500±$31k 41% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Williston and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118 14% below U.S. |
$1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Williston and Kittery 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. |
$4,518Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
$5,505 76% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williston and Hartford 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% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 30% below U.S. |
20 minHighest 24% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kittery and Williston 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 | #17 of 133 in ME | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Hartford School District | Kittery Public Schools | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | Robert W Traip Academy | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
9.9Highest |
— | — |
| 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.