Compare towns
Hartford vs Wilder vs Johnson vs Williston
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1979).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Johnson has the most affordable homes ($169k median).
Williston has the most people working from home (22.3%).
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 | Wilder | Johnson | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736Highest |
3,087Lowest |
3,450 |
10,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9 about the VT average |
45.5±8.9Highest 6% above VT |
30.9±6.5Lowest 28% below VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
| Wilder and Williston 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%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Johnson 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 VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
10.8%±3.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Wilder 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% VT: 43.8% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9 VT: 7% |
14.4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,125±$7k 4% below VT |
$75,143±$9k 7% below VT |
$55,346±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,500±$26k 4% below VT |
$273,200±$18k 14% below VT |
$169,400±$62kLowest 46% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118 about the VT average |
$1,142±$451 7% below VT |
$948±$45Lowest 23% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773Highest 15% above VT |
$5,505 9% above VT |
$3,310Lowest 34% below VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7 VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
51.6%±20.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Johnson and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.1% VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
12.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% VT: 73.2% |
62.9% VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 22% below VT |
17 minLowest 29% below VT |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
8.8%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Hartford 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 | — | #57 of 70 in VT | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hartford School District | — | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | 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 |
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.