Compare towns
Williston vs Pomfret vs Waterbury 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%).
Pomfret has the oldest population (median age 53.4).
Waterbury has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
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 | Pomfret | Waterbury | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,144 |
908Lowest |
5,405 |
10,736Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.3% VT: +2.8% |
+7.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
53.4±12.1Highest 24% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
43.2±3.9Lowest about the VT average |
| Pomfret 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 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.9%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
18%±3 VT: 17.9% |
| Waterbury and Williston 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% |
29.5%±6.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.5%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Pomfret 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% VT: 43.8% |
58%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.2% VT: 43.8% |
47.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.8 VT: 7% |
4.9%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| 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 VT |
$84,229±$8k 4% above VT |
$103,917±$23k 28% above VT |
$78,125±$7kLowest 4% below VT |
| Williston and Waterbury 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 |
$399,200±$144k 26% above VT |
$447,200±$40k 41% above VT |
$304,500±$26kLowest 4% below VT |
| Williston and Waterbury 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 |
$1,170±$98 5% below VT |
$1,027±$535Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,218±$118 about the VT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592Lowest 11% above VT |
$6,722Highest 33% above VT |
$6,435 28% above VT |
$5,773 15% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
24%±22.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.8%±21.7 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±12.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Williston and Waterbury 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% |
5.8% VT: 10.1% |
7.9% VT: 10.1% |
11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% VT: 73.2% |
81.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
70.6% VT: 73.2% |
67.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1970Lowest 6 yrs older than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 16% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
30 minHighest 28% above VT |
18 minLowest 22% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
30.3%±10.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
28.3%±6.8 VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Pomfret and Waterbury 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 | — | #20 of 70 in VT | #34 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | 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 Our Story | None yet | 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.