Compare towns
Hartford vs Lebanon vs St. Albans 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
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
St. Albans has the most affordable homes ($263k median).
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 | Lebanon | St. Albans | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736 |
14,999Highest |
6,954Lowest |
10,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
38.7±2Lowest about the U.S. average |
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% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22.5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hartford and Lebanon 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% |
57.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lebanon 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. |
$98,147±$10k 22% above U.S. |
$57,980±$7kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Williston and Lebanon 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. |
$385,400±$29k 16% above U.S. |
$263,400±$18kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118 14% below U.S. |
$1,744±$132 23% above U.S. |
$1,150±$78Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Williston and Lebanon 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. |
$8,149Highest 161% above U.S. |
$4,436Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.8%±11.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| St. Albans and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
49%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 30% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lebanon 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 | #29 of 120 in NH | #46 of 70 in VT | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hartford School District | Lebanon School District | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | Lebanon High School | Bellows Free Academy (St. Albans) | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
11.7Highest |
11.4 |
— |
| 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.