Compare towns
Williston vs Lyme 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%).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k median).
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 | Lyme | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144 |
1,710Lowest |
10,736Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
43.2±3.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Lyme 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% |
19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Williston and Lyme 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% |
26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest 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. |
$133,906±$15kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
| Lyme 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. |
$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,773 85% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyme 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% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 25% below U.S. |
21 minHighest 21% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme 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 | — | #34 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Lyme School District | Hartford School District |
| High school in town | None 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 |
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.