Compare towns
Williston vs Kennebunk 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%).
Kennebunk has the most people working from home (32.5%).
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k 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 | Kennebunk | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144Lowest |
11,820Highest |
10,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
43.2±3.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Williston and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 U.S. |
$107,804±$8kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
| Kennebunk 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±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$487,700±$21kHighest 47% above U.S. |
$304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Kennebunk and Williston 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. |
$1,425±$290 about the U.S. average |
$1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Williston and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592 79% above U.S. |
$4,999Lowest 60% above U.S. |
$5,773Highest 85% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%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. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 25% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk and Williston 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 | #9 of 133 in ME | #34 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | RSU 21 | Hartford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Kennebunk High School | Hartford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6Highest |
9.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 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.