Compare towns
Hartford vs Brattleboro vs Colchester
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%).
Brattleboro has the most affordable homes ($257k median).
Colchester has the most expensive homes ($394k 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.
| Measure | Hartford | Brattleboro | Colchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,736Lowest |
12,122 |
17,648Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9 about the VT average |
45.6±4.5Highest 6% above VT |
39.3±1.4Lowest 9% below 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%±3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19%±2.8 VT: 17.9% |
19.1%±2.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Colchester and Brattleboro 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% |
25.5%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.9%±2.1Lowest 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% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
40.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 VT: 7% |
4.1%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
10.9%±1.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,125±$7k 4% below VT |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below VT |
$97,891±$9kHighest 21% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,500±$26k 4% below VT |
$257,300±$18kLowest 19% below VT |
$394,400±$25kHighest 25% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118 about the VT average |
$1,074±$58Lowest 13% below VT |
$1,474±$122Highest 19% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773Highest 15% above VT |
$5,700 13% above VT |
$5,471Lowest 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±9.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.2%±10.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Brattleboro and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.1% VT: 10.1% |
17.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% VT: 73.2% |
58.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
74.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 22% below VT |
19 min 19% below VT |
20 minHighest 15% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±4 VT: 16.9% |
19%±3.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Colchester and Brattleboro 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 | #33 of 70 in VT | #18 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hartford School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Colchester School District |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | Brattleboro Union High School | Colchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6 |
9.0Lowest |
11.8Highest |
| 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.