Compare towns
Hartford vs Williston vs Barre
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 shortest commute (18 min average).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Barre has the most affordable homes ($210k 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 | Williston | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,736Highest |
10,144 |
8,412Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9 about the VT average |
45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
42.2±6.6Lowest about the VT average |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.5%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| 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% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
36.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| 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 4% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$65,625±$7kLowest 19% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,500±$26k 4% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$210,400±$15kLowest 34% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118 about the VT average |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,093±$58Lowest 11% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773Highest 15% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$5,192Lowest 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| 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% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
17.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 22% below VT |
20 minHighest 16% below VT |
19 min 21% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1Lowest 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #19 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hartford School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | None in town | Spaulding Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
— | 10.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.