Compare towns
Hartford vs Plainfield vs Johnson 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 shortest commute (18 min average).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (87.3%).
Johnson has the most affordable homes ($169k 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 | Plainfield | Johnson | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736Highest |
2,522Lowest |
3,450 |
10,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
30.9±6.5Lowest 21% below U.S. |
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%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±5 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Johnson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
10.8%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.2%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% |
4.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,125±$7k 3% below U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$55,346±$14kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
| Plainfield 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±$26k 8% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
$169,400±$62kLowest 49% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Williston and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118 14% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
$948±$45Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Williston and Plainfield 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. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$3,310Lowest 6% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±20.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Johnson 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% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.8%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Plainfield 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | #57 of 70 in VT | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hartford School District | Plainfield School District | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6 |
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| 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.