Compare towns

Hartland vs Williston vs Derby

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hartland has the most homeowners (91.8%).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Derby has the most affordable homes ($225k 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.

MeasureHartlandWillistonDerby
People
Population
3,460Lowest
10,144Highest
4,537
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.6%
VT: +2.8%
+16.2%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-0.9%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
55.8±5.1Highest
29% above VT
45.4±4.5Lowest
5% above VT
51.6±2.1
20% above VT
Hartland and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.5%±5.6
VT: 17.9%
20.5%±5.2Highest
VT: 17.9%
15.7%±3.6Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Williston and Hartland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
28.4%±5.8Highest
VT: 21.4%
21%±3.5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
27.2%±4.2
VT: 21.4%
Hartland and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
36.6%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
54.9%Highest
VT: 43.8%
36.8%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.7%±1.9
VT: 7%
5.7%±2.7Highest
VT: 7%
2.3%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
Williston and Hartland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$86,136±$23k
6% above VT
$106,967±$12kHighest
32% above VT
$80,250±$8kLowest
about the VT average
Williston and Hartland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$348,600±$39k
10% above VT
$475,800±$40kHighest
50% above VT
$225,000±$10kLowest
29% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,832±$130Highest
48% above VT
$1,096±$118Lowest
11% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,437Highest
28% above VT
$5,592
11% above VT
$3,449Lowest
32% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
31.1%±89.7Lowest
VT: 48.4%
46.9%±17.4Highest
VT: 48.4%
45.8%±18.5
VT: 48.4%
Williston and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
4.3%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
7.4%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.8%Highest
VT: 73.2%
75.1%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
84.7%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971Lowest
5 yrs older than VT
1993Highest
17 yrs newer than VT
1978
2 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
4% below VT
20 minLowest
16% below VT
32 minHighest
38% above VT
Work from home
13.4%±6.4
VT: 16.9%
22.3%±7.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
10.6%±3.5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Williston and Hartland 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 #29 of 70 in VT #11 of 70 in VT #52 of 70 in VT
School district Hartland School District Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
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.