Compare towns
Williston vs Franklin vs Sheldon 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%).
Franklin has the most affordable homes ($247k median).
Sheldon has the most homeowners (89%).
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 | Franklin | Sheldon | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,144 |
1,590Lowest |
2,267 |
10,736Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
+7.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
38.8±6.9Lowest 10% below VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
43.2±3.9 about the VT average |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±5.6 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18%±3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.5%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| 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 VT: 43.8% |
21.7% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
47.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
4.9%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Franklin 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 |
$79,917±$21k about the VT average |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$78,125±$7kLowest 4% below VT |
| Williston and Franklin 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 |
$247,400±$66kLowest 22% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$304,500±$26k 4% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,218±$118 about the VT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592 11% above VT |
$3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$5,773Highest 15% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±12.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Williston and Franklin 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% VT: 73.2% |
74.7% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 16% below VT |
25 minHighest 8% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
18 minLowest 22% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Franklin 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 | — | — | #34 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | 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 | 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.