Compare towns
Williston vs Windham vs Strafford 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).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
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 | Windham | Strafford | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,144 |
594Lowest |
1,372 |
10,736Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
43.2±3.9Lowest about the VT average |
| Strafford and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18%±3 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Williston 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% |
23.2%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 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% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
47.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
4.9%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Williston and Strafford 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 VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$78,125±$7kLowest 4% below VT |
| Strafford and Williston 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 |
$431,300±$40k 36% above VT |
$304,500±$26kLowest 4% below VT |
| Williston and Strafford 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 |
— | $1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,218±$118 about the VT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592Lowest 11% above VT |
$5,951 18% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$5,773 15% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±12.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Williston and Strafford 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% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%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 |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 16% below VT |
27 minHighest 14% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
18 minLowest 22% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Windham 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 | — | Strafford 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 | 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.