Compare towns
Hartford vs Bartlett vs Essex Junction
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k median).
Bartlett has the oldest population (median age 57.4).
Essex Junction has the most people working from home (16.9%).
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 | Bartlett | Essex Junction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,736 |
3,281Lowest |
10,803Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
57.4±4.7Highest 48% above U.S. |
39.3±3.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
7.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Essex Junction 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
36.1%±9.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.1%±0.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Essex Junction and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,125±$7k 3% below U.S. |
$59,754±$9kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$89,257±$16kHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Essex Junction and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$371,400±$78k 12% above U.S. |
$407,500±$20kHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Essex Junction and Bartlett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,676±$97Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,544±$135 9% above U.S. |
| Bartlett and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773 85% above U.S. |
$2,512Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$6,797Highest 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.5%±37.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.3%±14.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bartlett and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Essex Junction 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 | #74 of 120 in NH | #14 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hartford School District | Bartlett School District | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | None in town | Essex High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
— | 11.7Highest |
| 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.