Compare towns
Williston vs Middlebury vs Hartford
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%).
Middlebury has the youngest population (median age 31.8).
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k median).
Middlebury is a college town. 32.6% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Middlebury | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144 |
9,175Lowest |
10,736Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+7.7% VT: +2.8% |
+7.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
31.8±3.7Lowest 26% below VT |
43.2±3.9 about the VT average |
| 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%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18%±3 VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.5%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Hartford and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
47.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
32.6%±1.1Highest VT: 7% |
4.9%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$86,169±$16k 6% above VT |
$78,125±$7kLowest 4% below VT |
| Williston and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$409,700±$30k 29% above VT |
$304,500±$26kLowest 4% below VT |
| Williston and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,156±$113Lowest 6% below VT |
$1,218±$118 about the VT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592Lowest 11% above VT |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$5,773 15% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±14.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±12.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Middlebury 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 VT: 10.1% |
10.7% VT: 10.1% |
11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
67.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minHighest 16% below VT |
16 minLowest 33% below VT |
18 min 22% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Middlebury 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 | #17 of 70 in VT | #34 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Hartford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Middlebury Union High School | Hartford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Highest |
9.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.