Compare towns
Williston vs Milton 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%).
Milton has the most expensive homes ($933k 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 | Milton | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144Lowest |
28,587Highest |
10,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
41.1±1.8Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
| 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%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
25.3%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Milton 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% |
16.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
71.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$188,529±$15kHighest 134% above U.S. |
$78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$933,200±$31kHighest 180% above U.S. |
$304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,474±$281 4% above U.S. |
$1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Williston and Milton 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. |
$9,677Highest 210% above U.S. |
$5,773 85% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±20.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williston and Milton 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 25% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Milton 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 | #55 of 282 in MA | #34 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Milton | Hartford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Milton High | Hartford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.4Highest |
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.