Compare towns
Williston vs Derry vs Castleton 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%).
Derry has the highest household income ($109k).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Hartford has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Derry | Castleton | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,144 |
34,116Highest |
4,453Lowest |
10,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
40.3±1.6 4% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
| Williston and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Derry and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hartford and Williston 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% |
37.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$108,944±$7kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$78,125±$7k 3% below U.S. |
| Derry 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. |
$432,000±$17k 30% above U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$304,500±$26k 8% below U.S. |
| Williston and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,547±$138 9% above U.S. |
$1,137±$195Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,218±$118 14% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592 79% above U.S. |
$8,103Highest 160% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$5,773 85% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Derry 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% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 25% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Derry 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 | #60 of 120 in NH | #39 of 70 in VT | #34 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Hartford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Pinkerton Academy | None in town | Hartford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.9Highest |
— | 9.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.