Compare towns
Williston vs Windham vs Brookline 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 the most expensive homes ($476k median).
Brookline has the most affordable homes ($291k median).
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 | Windham | Brookline | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,144 |
594 |
531Lowest |
10,736Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | +1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
43.2±3.9Lowest about the VT average |
| Williston and Brookline 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% |
17.5%±7.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20%±6 VT: 17.9% |
18%±3 VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Brookline 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% |
23.2%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.5%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Windham 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% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
41.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
47.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 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 |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
$78,125±$7kLowest 4% below VT |
| Williston and Windham 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 |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$290,700±$37kLowest 8% below VT |
$304,500±$26k 4% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
— | $1,732±$232 40% above VT |
$1,218±$118Lowest about the VT average |
| Williston and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592 11% above VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$5,000Lowest about the VT average |
$5,773 15% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±12.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Brookline 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% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
6.2% VT: 10.1% |
11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% VT: 73.2% |
82.9% 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 |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 16% below VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
18 minLowest 22% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Brookline 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 | 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.