Compare towns

Brattleboro vs Hartford vs Pomfret

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brattleboro has the most affordable homes ($257k median).
Hartford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
Pomfret has the most people working from home (30.3%).

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.

MeasureBrattleboroHartfordPomfret
People
Population
12,122Highest
10,736
908Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+7.4%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+1.3%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
45.6±4.5
6% above VT
43.2±3.9Lowest
about the VT average
53.4±12.1Highest
24% above VT
Pomfret and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19%±2.8Highest
VT: 17.9%
18%±3
VT: 17.9%
15.4%±6Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Brattleboro and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
25.5%±3.2
VT: 21.4%
22.5%±3.3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
29.5%±6.5Highest
VT: 21.4%
Pomfret and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
46.5%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
47.6%
VT: 43.8%
58%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.1%±1.6
VT: 7%
4.9%±1.7Highest
VT: 7%
1.4%±1.2Lowest
VT: 7%
Hartford and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$58,241±$8kLowest
28% below VT
$78,125±$7k
4% below VT
$84,229±$8kHighest
4% above VT
Pomfret 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±$18kLowest
19% below VT
$304,500±$26k
4% below VT
$399,200±$144kHighest
26% above VT
Pomfret and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,074±$58Lowest
13% below VT
$1,218±$118Highest
about the VT average
$1,170±$98
5% below VT
Hartford and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,700Lowest
13% above VT
$5,773
15% above VT
$6,722Highest
33% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.9%±9.6Highest
VT: 48.4%
44.6%±12.7
VT: 48.4%
24%±22.4Lowest
VT: 48.4%
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
VT: 10.1%
11.1%
VT: 10.1%
5.8%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
58.5%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
67.8%
VT: 73.2%
81.3%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1955Lowest
21 yrs older than VT
1979Highest
3 yrs newer than VT
1970
6 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 min
19% below VT
18 minLowest
22% below VT
24 minHighest
about the VT average
Work from home
17.9%±4
VT: 16.9%
13.9%±3.5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
30.3%±10.5Highest
VT: 16.9%
Pomfret and Brattleboro 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 —
School district Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Hartford School District Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76
High school in town Brattleboro Union High School Hartford High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
9.0Lowest
9.6Highest
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On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.