Compare towns
Hartford vs Ossipee 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
Hartford has the most renters (32.2% rent).
Ossipee has the oldest population (median age 50).
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 | Ossipee | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,736Highest |
4,521Lowest |
10,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
50±4.6Highest 29% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
| Ossipee and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Williston and Ossipee 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% |
26.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ossipee and Hartford 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% |
24.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 3% below U.S. |
$90,521±$22k 12% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Williston and Ossipee 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. |
$325,500±$23k about the U.S. average |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,601±$245 13% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Williston and Ossipee 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. |
$4,401Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±16.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ossipee 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% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Hartford 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 | #100 of 120 in NH | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hartford School District | Governor Wentworth Regional 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 |
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.