Compare towns
Hartford vs Bow vs White River 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 oldest population (median age 43.2).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
White River Junction has the most renters (56.1% rent).
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 | Bow | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,736Highest |
8,335 |
3,364Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Hartford and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22.5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hartford and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow 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. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,500±$26k 8% below U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$278,800±$78kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
$1,222±$216 14% below U.S. |
| Bow and White River 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. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$5,651Lowest 81% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hartford and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 30% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow and White River Junction 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 | #26 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Hartford School District | Bow School District | — |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | Bow High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— |
| 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.