Compare towns
Williston vs Mapleton vs Dorset 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%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
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 | Mapleton | Dorset | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,144 |
1,884Lowest |
2,092 |
10,736Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hartford and Dorset 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% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Mapleton 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. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
| Dorset 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. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S. |
$304,500±$26k 8% below U.S. |
| Dorset 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. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,420±$296 about the U.S. average |
$1,218±$118 14% below U.S. |
| Williston and Dorset 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. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$7,489Highest 140% above U.S. |
$5,773 85% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset 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% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 25% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
22 min 18% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset 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 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | 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 |
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.