Compare towns
Hartwick vs Williston vs Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hartwick has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Reading has the most affordable homes ($160k 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 | Hartwick | Williston | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,143 |
10,144Highest |
1,637Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.3±5.4Highest 27% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Lowest 17% above U.S. |
46.3±6.4 19% above U.S. |
| Hartwick and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Williston and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,196±$6kLowest about the U.S. average |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$86,131±$9k 7% above U.S. |
| Williston and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $173,500±$36k 48% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$160,200±$37kLowest 52% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,000±$174Lowest 29% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,507±$514 7% above U.S. |
| Williston and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,912Lowest 7% below U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$3,219 3% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±25.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±19.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hartwick and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.2%±13.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Hartwick 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.