Compare towns
Hartford vs South Berwick vs Williston vs Randolph
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).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Randolph has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
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 | South Berwick | Williston | Randolph |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736Highest |
7,670 |
10,144 |
4,843Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
40.4±7.4 4% 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%±3 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Williston 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% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Randolph 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% |
41.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,125±$7k 3% below U.S. |
$99,572±$13k 23% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$76,758±$6kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Williston and South Berwick 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. |
$428,300±$26k 29% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$278,700±$38kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Williston and South Berwick 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. |
$1,726±$83 22% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,172±$173Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Williston and South Berwick 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. |
$4,956 59% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
$4,698Lowest 51% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.1%±17.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Randolph and South Berwick 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% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and South Berwick 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 | #58 of 133 in ME | #11 of 70 in VT | #55 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hartford School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | Marshwood High School | None in town | Randolph Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6 |
13.0Highest |
— | 9.4Lowest |
| 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.