Compare towns
Williston vs Hartford vs Bellows Falls
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%).
Hartford has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Bellows Falls has the most affordable homes ($196k median).
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 | Hartford | Bellows Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144 |
10,736Highest |
2,891Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+7.4% VT: +2.8% |
-12.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
43.2±3.9 about the VT average |
41.3±6.7Lowest 4% below VT |
| 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% |
18%±3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Bellows Falls and Williston 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% |
22.5%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
23.7%±5.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bellows Falls 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% |
47.6% VT: 43.8% |
27.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
4.9%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
8.2%±4.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Bellows Falls 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 |
$78,125±$7k 4% below VT |
$56,086±$2kLowest 31% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$304,500±$26k 4% below VT |
$195,600±$35kLowest 38% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,218±$118 about the VT average |
$1,038±$109Lowest 16% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592 11% above VT |
$5,773Highest 15% above VT |
$4,448Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±12.7 VT: 48.4% |
43.9%±16.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Williston and Hartford 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% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
25.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.8% VT: 73.2% |
50.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 16% below VT |
18 minLowest 22% below VT |
20 minHighest 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | #34 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Hartford School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Hartford High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.6 |
— |
| 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.