Compare towns
Williston vs Bennington vs Hartford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($213k median).
Hartford has the youngest population (median age 43.2).
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 | Williston | Bennington | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144Lowest |
15,249Highest |
10,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
43.2±3.9Lowest about the VT average |
| Williston and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18%±3 VT: 17.9% |
| 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 VT: 21.4% |
25.2%±2.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.5%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Bennington and Hartford 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 VT: 43.8% |
36.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
47.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
5.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
4.9%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bennington and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$59,446±$7kLowest 27% below VT |
$78,125±$7k 4% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$213,300±$15kLowest 33% below VT |
$304,500±$26k 4% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,133±$63Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,218±$118 about the VT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592 11% above VT |
$4,513Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,773Highest 15% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±12.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
13.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
67.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1961Lowest 15 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minHighest 16% below VT |
17 minLowest 27% below VT |
18 min 22% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Bennington 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 | #58 of 70 in VT | #34 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Hartford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | Hartford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7Highest |
9.6Lowest |
| 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.