Compare towns
Williston vs Unity 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%).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
Hartford has the most renters (32.2% rent).
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 | Unity | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144 |
1,375Lowest |
10,736Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
43.2±3.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest 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%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest 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. |
$87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
| Williston and Unity 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. |
$276,100±$29kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$304,500±$26k 8% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,625±$804 15% above U.S. |
$1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Williston and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592 79% above U.S. |
$5,394Lowest 73% above U.S. |
$5,773Highest 85% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 25% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Hartford 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 | Unity School District | 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 |
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.