Compare towns
Hartford vs Norwich vs Williston vs White River Junction
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Norwich has the most expensive homes ($638k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
White River Junction has the most renters (56.1% rent).
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 | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736Highest |
3,640 |
10,144 |
3,364Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+10.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9 about the VT average |
40.8±3.2 5% below VT |
45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below 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% |
24%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Norwich 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% |
16%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest 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% |
81%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
38.9%Lowest 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% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest 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±$7k 4% below VT |
$140,313±$12kHighest 73% above VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$77,168±$4kLowest 5% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,500±$26k 4% below VT |
$637,500±$76kHighest 101% above VT |
$475,800±$40k 50% above VT |
$278,800±$78kLowest 12% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118Lowest about the VT average |
$1,460±$322 18% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,222±$216 about the VT average |
| 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 |
$5,651 12% 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% |
42.9%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
| 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% VT: 10.1% |
2.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% VT: 73.2% |
71.9% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 22% below VT |
19 min 19% below VT |
20 minHighest 16% below VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Norwich 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 | — |
| School district | Hartford School District | Norwich School District | 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.