Compare towns
Hartford vs Stowe vs Hanover 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 affordable homes ($305k median).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Stowe | Hanover | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736Highest |
5,285Lowest |
8,479 |
10,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
46.3±7.6Highest 19% above U.S. |
21.8±0.3Lowest 44% below U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
| Stowe and Williston 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% |
22.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Stowe 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% |
25.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stowe 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
66.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
89.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
49.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$93,618±$33k 16% above U.S. |
$153,281±$26kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$647,800±$157k 95% above U.S. |
$842,600±$97kHighest 153% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,458±$242 3% above U.S. |
$2,254±$249Highest 60% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130 30% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773 85% above U.S. |
$7,161 130% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover 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% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
20 minHighest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover and Stowe 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 | — | #1 of 120 in NH | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hartford School District | Stowe Town School District | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | Stowe High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
11.3Highest |
— | — |
| 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.