Compare towns
Brattleboro vs Hartford vs South Berwick
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 affordable homes ($257k median).
Hartford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
South Berwick has the most expensive homes ($428k 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 | Brattleboro | Hartford | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,122Highest |
10,736 |
7,670Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Brattleboro and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Brattleboro 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% |
15.8%±3Lowest 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% |
41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hartford and South Berwick 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 U.S. |
$78,125±$7k 3% below U.S. |
$99,572±$13kHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $257,300±$18kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$304,500±$26k 8% below U.S. |
$428,300±$26kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,074±$58Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$1,218±$118 14% below U.S. |
$1,726±$83Highest 22% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,700 83% above U.S. |
$5,773Highest 85% above U.S. |
$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Berwick and Brattleboro 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% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 28% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brattleboro and South Berwick 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 | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Hartford School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | Brattleboro Union High School | Hartford High School | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
9.6 |
13.0Highest |
| 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.