Compare towns
Hartford vs Norwich vs Williston vs Waterbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k median).
Norwich has the most expensive homes ($638k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Waterbury has the most people working from home (28.3%).
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 | Norwich | Williston | Waterbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736Highest |
3,640Lowest |
10,144 |
5,405 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9 about the VT average |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% below VT |
45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
| Williston and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.9%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Norwich and Waterbury 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% |
16%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±4.4 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
81%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
54.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 VT: 7% |
4.8%±2.4 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Williston and Hartford 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 4% below VT |
$140,313±$12kHighest 73% above VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$103,917±$23k 28% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,500±$26kLowest 4% below VT |
$637,500±$76kHighest 101% above VT |
$475,800±$40k 50% above VT |
$447,200±$40k 41% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118 about the VT average |
$1,460±$322 18% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,027±$535Lowest 17% below VT |
| Williston and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773 15% above VT |
$10,000+Highest at least 98% above VT |
$5,592Lowest 11% above VT |
$6,435 28% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7 VT: 48.4% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.8%±21.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Williston and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
7.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
71.9% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
70.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 22% below VT |
19 min 19% below VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
30 minHighest 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
28.3%±6.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Waterbury 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 | #1 of 70 in VT | #11 of 70 in VT | #20 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hartford School District | Norwich School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | None in town | 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.