Compare towns
Williston vs Madison 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%).
Madison has the most affordable homes ($188k 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 | Madison | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144 |
4,782Lowest |
10,736Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
49.6±3.4Highest 28% above U.S. |
43.2±3.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Madison 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% |
14.9%±4.3Lowest 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% |
25.1%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Madison 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
21.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.8Lowest 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±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$61,747±$11kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$78,125±$7k 3% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$187,600±$40kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$304,500±$26k 8% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$906±$247Lowest 36% below U.S. |
$1,218±$118 14% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592 79% above U.S. |
$1,983Lowest 36% below U.S. |
$5,773Highest 85% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.9%±11.7Lowest 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% |
15%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
54.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 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%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±10.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Madison 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 | RSU 59/MSAD 59 | Hartford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Madison Jr/Sr High School | Hartford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0Highest |
9.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.