Compare towns
Williston vs Castleton vs Marlow 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%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Marlow has the most homeowners (92.6%).
Hartford has the most renters (32.2% rent).
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 | Castleton | Marlow | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,144 |
4,453 |
855Lowest |
10,736Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
52.8±11.7Highest 36% above U.S. |
43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
| Marlow 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% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Marlow 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$110,455±$12kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$78,125±$7k 3% below U.S. |
| Marlow 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. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$325,400±$49k about the U.S. average |
$304,500±$26k 8% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,137±$195Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,154±$160 18% below U.S. |
$1,218±$118 14% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592 79% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$5,826Highest 87% above U.S. |
$5,773 85% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
18.2%±95.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 25% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | — | #34 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Marlow School District | Hartford School District |
| High school in town | None 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 | 4 photos → | 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.