Compare towns
Hartford vs Worcester vs Underhill 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 most renters (32.2% rent).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Underhill has the most kids (27.8% under 18).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Worcester | Underhill | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736Highest |
831Lowest |
3,141 |
10,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9 about the VT average |
47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
38.1±11.4Lowest 12% below VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
| Worcester 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% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
27.8%±10.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Underhill 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 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
17.6%±6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
50.1% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.5%±2Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
| Worcester 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 4% below VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$92,267±$54k 14% above VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
| Williston and Underhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,500±$26k 4% below VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$446,000±$24k 41% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
| Williston and Underhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118 about the VT average |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
— | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773 15% above VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$6,697Highest 33% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
0%±18.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Highest 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
6.4% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.8% VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 22% below VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.4%±11.3 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Williston 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 | — | #2 of 70 in VT | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hartford School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | None in town | 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.