Compare towns
Hartford vs Brattleboro vs Lebanon
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 homeowners (67.8%).
Brattleboro has the most affordable homes ($257k median).
Lebanon has the most people working from home (22.8%).
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 | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,736Lowest |
12,122 |
14,999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
45.6±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
38.9±3.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
19%±2.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lebanon 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. |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$98,147±$10kHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,500±$26k 8% below U.S. |
$257,300±$18kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$385,400±$29kHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118 14% below U.S. |
$1,074±$58Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$1,744±$132Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773 85% above U.S. |
$5,700Lowest 83% above U.S. |
$8,149Highest 161% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±9.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 30% below U.S. |
19 minHighest 28% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lebanon 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 | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hartford School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | Brattleboro Union High School | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6 |
9.0Lowest |
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.