Compare towns
Brattleboro vs Hartford vs Keene
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brattleboro has the most people working from home (17.9%).
Hartford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
Keene has the youngest population (median age 37.6).
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 | Brattleboro | Hartford | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,122 |
10,736Lowest |
22,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S. |
| Brattleboro and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±2.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brattleboro and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brattleboro and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $58,241±$8kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$78,125±$7k 3% below U.S. |
$78,445±$8kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Keene and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $257,300±$18k 23% below U.S. |
$304,500±$26kHighest 8% below U.S. |
$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,074±$58Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$1,218±$118 14% below U.S. |
$1,342±$68Highest 5% below U.S. |
| Keene and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,700Lowest 83% above U.S. |
$5,773 85% above U.S. |
$6,812Highest 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±9.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brattleboro and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 17.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minHighest 28% below U.S. |
18 min 30% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brattleboro and Keene 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 | #33 of 70 in VT | #34 of 70 in VT | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Hartford School District | Keene School District |
| High school in town | Brattleboro Union High School | Hartford High School | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
9.6 |
12.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.