Compare towns
Williston vs Brattleboro vs Hartford vs Hinesburg
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%).
Brattleboro has the most affordable homes ($257k median).
Hartford has the youngest population (median age 43.2).
Hinesburg has the most homeowners (83.6%).
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 | Brattleboro | Hartford | Hinesburg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,144 |
12,122Highest |
10,736 |
4,718Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.4% VT: +2.8% |
+6.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
45.6±4.5 6% above VT |
43.2±3.9Lowest about the VT average |
50.1±5.2Highest 16% above VT |
| Hinesburg and Brattleboro 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% |
19%±2.8 VT: 17.9% |
18%±3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Brattleboro 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% |
25.5%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
22.5%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±7.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Hinesburg and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9% VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
47.6% VT: 43.8% |
64.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
4.1%±1.6 VT: 7% |
4.9%±1.7 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1Lowest 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 | $106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below VT |
$78,125±$7k 4% below VT |
$112,539±$18kHighest 39% above VT |
| Hinesburg 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 50% above VT |
$257,300±$18kLowest 19% below VT |
$304,500±$26k 4% below VT |
$463,400±$51k 46% above VT |
| Williston and Hinesburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,074±$58Lowest 13% below VT |
$1,218±$118 about the VT average |
$1,651±$155 34% above VT |
| Williston and Hinesburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592Lowest 11% above VT |
$5,700 13% above VT |
$5,773 15% above VT |
$7,667Highest 52% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±9.6 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±12.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.2%±29.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Hinesburg 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% |
17.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
8.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% VT: 73.2% |
58.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
67.8% VT: 73.2% |
83.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minHighest 16% below VT |
19 min 19% below VT |
18 minLowest 22% below VT |
20 min 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±4 VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.6%±6.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Hinesburg 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 | #33 of 70 in VT | #34 of 70 in VT | #4 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Hartford School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None in town | Brattleboro Union High School | Hartford High School | Champlain Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0Lowest |
9.6 |
14.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.