Compare towns

Cambridge vs Hartford vs Johnson

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cambridge has the most expensive homes ($343k median).
Hartford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
Johnson has the most affordable homes ($169k 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.

MeasureCambridgeHartfordJohnson
People
Population
3,767
10,736Highest
3,450Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.9%
VT: +2.8%
+7.4%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+1.3%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
37.4±1.8
13% below VT
43.2±3.9Highest
about the VT average
30.9±6.5Lowest
28% below VT
Kids under 18
23%±4.9Highest
VT: 17.9%
18%±3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
22.7%±5
VT: 17.9%
Cambridge and Johnson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
14.4%±3.5
VT: 21.4%
22.5%±3.3Highest
VT: 21.4%
10.8%±3.1Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
50.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
47.6%
VT: 43.8%
32.2%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.9%±1.2Lowest
VT: 7%
4.9%±1.7
VT: 7%
14.4%±2.1Highest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$72,344±$19k
11% below VT
$78,125±$7kHighest
4% below VT
$55,346±$14kLowest
32% below VT
Hartford and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$343,000±$38kHighest
8% above VT
$304,500±$26k
4% below VT
$169,400±$62kLowest
46% below VT
Cambridge and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,183±$66
4% below VT
$1,218±$118Highest
about the VT average
$948±$45Lowest
23% below VT
Hartford and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,910
about the VT average
$5,773Highest
15% above VT
$3,310Lowest
34% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
66.6%±7.3Highest
VT: 48.4%
44.6%±12.7Lowest
VT: 48.4%
51.6%±20.8
VT: 48.4%
Cambridge and Johnson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.7%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
11.1%
VT: 10.1%
12.2%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
70.3%Highest
VT: 73.2%
67.8%
VT: 73.2%
58.4%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985Highest
9 yrs newer than VT
1979Lowest
3 yrs newer than VT
1980
4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 min
38% above VT
18 minLowest
22% below VT
33 minHighest
42% above VT
Work from home
9.9%±4.1
VT: 16.9%
13.9%±3.5Highest
VT: 16.9%
8.8%±4.6Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Hartford and Cambridge 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 #25 of 70 in VT #34 of 70 in VT #57 of 70 in VT
School district Cambridge School District Hartford School District Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A
High school in town None in town Hartford High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.6
—
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.