Compare towns
Hartford vs Wilder vs Hampton Falls 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 youngest population (median age 43.2).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
Williston has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
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 | Wilder | Hampton Falls | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736Highest |
3,087 |
2,328Lowest |
10,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9 17% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
| Hampton Falls and Wilder 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% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Williston and Hampton Falls 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% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilder and Hampton Falls 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% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder and Williston 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. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$166,157±$14kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,500±$26k 8% below U.S. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$772,600±$76kHighest 132% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118 14% below U.S. |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,852±$475Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130 30% above U.S. |
| Hampton Falls and Williston 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. |
$5,505Lowest 76% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williston and Hartford 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% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 30% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Hampton Falls 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 | — | Hampton Falls School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | — | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6 |
— | — | — |
| 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.