Compare towns
Essex vs Mapleton vs Hartford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Essex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.8%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Hartford has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Essex | Mapleton | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,516Highest |
1,884Lowest |
10,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±1.9 9% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
43.2±3.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Hartford and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Essex and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hartford and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,199±$14kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
| Essex and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $447,300±$14kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$304,500±$26k 8% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,569±$138Highest 11% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,218±$118 14% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,602Highest 112% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$5,773 85% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.9%±13.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Essex and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.5%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Essex and Hartford 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 | #13 of 70 in VT | — | #34 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | 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 |
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.