Compare towns
Sharon vs Williston vs Hartford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sharon has the most homeowners (79.7%).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k 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 | Sharon | Williston | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,577Lowest |
10,144 |
10,736Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+7.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7Highest 6% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
43.2±3.9Lowest about the VT average |
| Sharon and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
18%±3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sharon and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.5%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Sharon and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
47.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
4.9%±1.7 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 | $84,375±$17k 4% above VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$78,125±$7kLowest 4% below VT |
| Williston and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$37k 10% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$304,500±$26kLowest 4% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$155 12% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,218±$118Lowest about the VT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,903Highest 17% above VT |
$5,592Lowest 11% above VT |
$5,773 15% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±12.7 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 | 3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
67.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 12% above VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
18 minLowest 22% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±3.5 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | #34 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Sharon School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Hartford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Hartford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.6 |
| 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.