Compare towns
Hartford vs Bridgewater 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%).
Bridgewater has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
Waterbury has the most people working from home (28.3%).
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 | Bridgewater | Waterbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,736Highest |
980Lowest |
5,405 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9Lowest about the VT average |
57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.9%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Waterbury 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 VT: 21.4% |
30.2%±0.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.6% VT: 43.8% |
40.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 VT: 7% |
5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bridgewater 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 4% below VT |
$70,272±$3kLowest 13% below VT |
$103,917±$23kHighest 28% above VT |
| Waterbury 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±$26k 4% below VT |
$218,300±$55kLowest 31% below VT |
$447,200±$40kHighest 41% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118Highest about the VT average |
$850±$778Lowest 31% below VT |
$1,027±$535 17% below VT |
| Hartford and Waterbury 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 |
$3,418Lowest 32% below VT |
$6,435Highest 28% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
59.7%±39.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.8%±21.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Bridgewater 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% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
70.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 22% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
30 minHighest 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.3%±6.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #34 of 70 in VT | — | #20 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hartford School District | — | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6 |
— | — |
| 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.