Compare towns
Hartford vs Ripton vs Williston vs Pomfret
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).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Williston has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
Pomfret has the most people working from home (30.3%).
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 | Ripton | Williston | Pomfret |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736Highest |
508Lowest |
10,144 |
908 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2% VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9Lowest about the VT average |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
53.4±12.1Highest 24% above VT |
| Pomfret and Ripton 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.5%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Pomfret 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% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
58%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
1.4%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,125±$7kLowest 4% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$84,229±$8k 4% above VT |
| Ripton 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 4% below VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$399,200±$144k 26% above VT |
| Williston and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118 about the VT average |
— | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,170±$98Lowest 5% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773 15% above VT |
$4,915Lowest about the VT average |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$6,722Highest 33% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
24%±22.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton 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 VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
81.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1970Lowest 6 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 22% below VT |
24 minHighest about the VT average |
20 min 16% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
30.3%±10.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Pomfret 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Hartford School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| 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 History | 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.