Compare towns

Hartford vs White River Junction vs Windham 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

White River Junction has the most renters (56.1% rent).
Windham has the highest household income ($190k).
Williston has the oldest population (median age 45.4).

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.

MeasureHartfordWhite River JunctionWindhamWilliston
People
Population
10,736
3,364Lowest
16,038Highest
10,144
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.2±3.9
11% above U.S.
33.7±3.2Lowest
13% below U.S.
41.1±2.9
6% above 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%±3
U.S.: 22%
17.1%±5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
27.4%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
20.5%±5.2
U.S.: 22%
Windham and Williston 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%
12.5%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.5%±2.6
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%
38.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
62.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
54.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.9%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
1.2%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±1.8
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±$7k
3% below U.S.
$77,168±$4kLowest
4% below U.S.
$189,583±$19kHighest
135% above U.S.
$106,967±$12k
32% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$304,500±$26k
8% below U.S.
$278,800±$78kLowest
16% below U.S.
$723,300±$50kHighest
117% above U.S.
$475,800±$40k
43% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,218±$118Lowest
14% below U.S.
$1,222±$216
14% below U.S.
$3,218±$350Highest
128% above U.S.
$1,832±$130
30% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,773
85% above U.S.
$5,651
81% 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%
42.9%±17.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.2%±50.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.9%±17.4
U.S.: 51.1%
Windham 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%
12.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
67.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
43.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
1996Highest
16 yrs newer than U.S.
1993
13 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
18 min
30% below U.S.
15 minLowest
42% below U.S.
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
20 min
25% below U.S.
Work from home
13.9%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.7%±5.8
U.S.: 15.1%
21.9%±4.4
U.S.: 15.1%
22.3%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Williston and Windham 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 — #13 of 120 in NH #11 of 70 in VT
School district Hartford School District — Windham School District Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56
High school in town Hartford High School — Windham High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
9.6Lowest
—
12.8Highest
—
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.