Compare towns
Williston vs Windham vs Hartford vs Waterbury
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 the oldest population (median age 45.4).
Windham has the highest household income ($190k).
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k median).
Waterbury has the most people working from home (28.3%).
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 | Windham | Hartford | Waterbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,144 |
16,038Highest |
10,736 |
5,405Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7 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% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Waterbury 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% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.4 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% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.8Lowest 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±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$103,917±$23k 29% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$447,200±$40k 34% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130 30% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,218±$118 14% below U.S. |
$1,027±$535Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,773 85% above U.S. |
$6,435 106% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.8%±21.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Williston 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% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 25% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.3%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waterbury 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #34 of 70 in VT | #20 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Windham School District | Hartford School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | Hartford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
9.6Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.