Compare towns
Hartford vs Barre vs Brattleboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
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).
Brattleboro has the most people working from home (17.9%).
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 | Hartford | Barre | Brattleboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,736 |
8,412Lowest |
12,122Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9 about the VT average |
42.2±6.6Lowest about the VT average |
45.6±4.5Highest 6% above VT |
| Brattleboro and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3 VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19%±2.8Highest 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+ | 22.5%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| 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+ | 47.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
36.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
4.1%±1.6 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 | $78,125±$7kHighest 4% below VT |
$65,625±$7k 19% below VT |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% 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 |
$257,300±$18k 19% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118Highest about the VT average |
$1,093±$58 11% below VT |
$1,074±$58Lowest 13% 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 |
$5,700 13% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7 VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±9.6Highest 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 | 11.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
17.3% VT: 10.1% |
17.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
58.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
1955 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 22% below VT |
19 min 21% below VT |
19 minHighest 19% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Brattleboro 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 | #34 of 70 in VT | #19 of 70 in VT | #33 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hartford School District | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | Spaulding Union High School | Brattleboro Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6 |
10.7Highest |
9.0Lowest |
| 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.