Compare towns
Williston vs Reading 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%).
Reading has the most homeowners (84.9%).
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 | Reading | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144 |
699Lowest |
10,736Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
43.2±3.9Lowest about the VT average |
| Reading and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
18%±3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.5%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading 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 VT: 43.8% |
46%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
47.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest 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 |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$78,125±$7kLowest 4% below VT |
| Williston and Reading 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 |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$304,500±$26kLowest 4% below VT |
| Williston and Reading 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 |
$1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,218±$118 about the VT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592Lowest 11% above VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$5,773Highest 15% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±12.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading 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% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 16% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
18 minLowest 22% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | 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 Our Story | 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.