Compare towns
Williston vs Ashby vs Hartford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Ashby has the most homeowners (95.5%).
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 | Williston | Ashby | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144 |
3,211Lowest |
10,736Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
43.2±3.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Ashby and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Williston and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hartford and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$115,598±$9kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
| Ashby and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$390,500±$30k 17% above U.S. |
$304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,200±$484Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,218±$118 14% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$6,034Highest 93% above U.S. |
$5,773 85% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williston and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 25% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Ashby 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 | #200 of 282 in MA | #34 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | North Middlesex | 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 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.