Compare towns

Williston vs Springfield 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%).
Springfield has the most homeowners (90.7%).
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.

MeasureWillistonSpringfieldHartford
People
Population
10,144
1,122Lowest
10,736Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+16.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.4±4.5
17% above U.S.
51.4±8.8Highest
32% above U.S.
43.2±3.9Lowest
11% above U.S.
Springfield 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
U.S.: 22%
15.1%±8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18%±3
U.S.: 22%
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
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±1.6Lowest
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%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
36.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
47.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.7%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
0%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
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 U.S.
$100,893±$19k
25% above U.S.
$78,125±$7kLowest
3% below U.S.
Williston and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$475,800±$40kHighest
43% above U.S.
$384,100±$50k
15% above U.S.
$304,500±$26kLowest
8% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,832±$130Highest
30% above U.S.
$1,096±$217Lowest
22% below U.S.
$1,218±$118
14% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,592Lowest
79% above U.S.
$5,946Highest
91% above U.S.
$5,773
85% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.9%±17.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
25.9%±64.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.6%±12.7
U.S.: 51.1%
Williston and Hartford 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%
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
90.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
67.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1993Highest
13 yrs newer than U.S.
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1979Lowest
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 min
25% below U.S.
34 minHighest
30% above U.S.
18 minLowest
30% below U.S.
Work from home
22.3%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.7%±11.6
U.S.: 15.1%
13.9%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Williston and Springfield 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 — Hartford School District
High school 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

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.