Compare towns
Hartford vs Brattleboro vs Woodstock vs Waterbury
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).
Woodstock has the most expensive homes ($582k median).
Waterbury has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
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 | Woodstock | Waterbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736 |
12,122Highest |
3,027Lowest |
5,405 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
-1.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9Lowest about the VT average |
45.6±4.5 6% above VT |
56±3.6Highest 30% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3 VT: 17.9% |
19%±2.8 VT: 17.9% |
15.6%±4.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.9%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Waterbury 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%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
32.7%±5.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Woodstock and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.6% VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.9% VT: 43.8% |
54.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
4.1%±1.6 VT: 7% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.8 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±$7k 4% below VT |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below VT |
$120,938±$29kHighest 49% above VT |
$103,917±$23k 28% above VT |
| Woodstock and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,500±$26k 4% below VT |
$257,300±$18kLowest 19% below VT |
$582,000±$84kHighest 84% above VT |
$447,200±$40k 41% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118 about the VT average |
$1,074±$58 13% below VT |
$1,430±$346Highest 16% above VT |
$1,027±$535Lowest 17% below VT |
| Woodstock and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773 15% above VT |
$5,700Lowest 13% above VT |
$9,449Highest 88% above VT |
$6,435 28% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±9.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.7%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
46.8%±21.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Brattleboro and Waterbury 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% |
8.9% VT: 10.1% |
7.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% VT: 73.2% |
58.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
69.4% VT: 73.2% |
70.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1958 18 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 22% below VT |
19 min 19% below VT |
22 min 7% below VT |
30 minHighest 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±4 VT: 16.9% |
32.8%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
28.3%±6.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Woodstock and Waterbury 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 | #10 of 70 in VT | #20 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hartford School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | Brattleboro Union High School | Woodstock Union Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6 |
9.0Lowest |
11.5Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.