What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hartford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).

Barre has the most affordable homes ($210k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hartford	Barre
People
Population	10,736Highest	8,412Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.4%Highest VT: +2.8%	-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	43.2±3.9Highest about the VT average	42.2±6.6Lowest about the VT average
	Hartford and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18%±3Highest VT: 17.9%	13.5%±3.8Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Hartford and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.5%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4%	19.4%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Hartford and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.6%Highest VT: 43.8%	36.1%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1.7Highest VT: 7%	3.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7%
	Hartford and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,125±$7kHighest 4% below VT	$65,625±$7kLowest 19% below VT
	Hartford and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$304,500±$26kHighest 4% below VT	$210,400±$15kLowest 34% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,218±$118Highest about the VT average	$1,093±$58Lowest 11% below VT
	Hartford and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,773Highest 15% above VT	$5,192Lowest 3% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.6%±12.7Highest VT: 48.4%	34.4%±10.3Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Hartford and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.1%Lowest VT: 10.1%	17.3%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.8%Highest VT: 73.2%	50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT	1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 22% below VT	19 minHighest 21% below VT
Work from home	13.9%±3.5Highest VT: 16.9%	10.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Hartford and Barre 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	#34 of 70 in VT	#19 of 70 in VT
School district	Hartford School District	Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center
High school in town	Hartford High School	Spaulding Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.6Lowest	10.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.