Compare towns
Hartford vs Ogunquit vs Williston vs Essex Junction
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 most affordable homes ($305k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Williston has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
Essex Junction has the most renters (40.7% 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 | Ogunquit | Williston | Essex Junction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736 |
1,379Lowest |
10,144 |
10,803Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
39.3±3.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Williston and Essex Junction 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Essex Junction 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±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$89,257±$16k 11% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$407,500±$20k 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
— | $1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,544±$135 9% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773 85% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
$6,797Highest 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.3%±14.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Essex Junction 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 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 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #34 of 70 in VT | — | #11 of 70 in VT | #14 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hartford School District | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | — | None in town | Essex High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
— | — | 11.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.