Compare towns
Williston vs Middlesex vs Hampton 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%).
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
Hampton has the most expensive homes ($545k 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 | Middlesex | Hampton | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,144 |
1,943Lowest |
10,101 |
10,736Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
51.2±1.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
43.2±3.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Hampton 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Williston 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% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton 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% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2%Lowest 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%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Middlesex 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. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$97,163±$4k 20% above U.S. |
$78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
| Middlesex 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. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$545,300±$63kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Hampton 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. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,654±$93 17% above U.S. |
$1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Williston and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$6,872Highest 120% above U.S. |
$5,773 85% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±13.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 25% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | #31 of 120 in NH | #34 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | 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 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.