What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hartford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).

Colchester has the most people working from home (19%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hartford	Colchester
People
Population	10,736Lowest	17,648Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.4%Highest VT: +2.8%	+2.7%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	43.2±3.9Highest about the VT average	39.3±1.4Lowest 9% below VT
	Hartford and Colchester 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%	19.1%±2.5Highest VT: 17.9%
	Colchester and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.5%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4%	17.9%±2.1Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Hartford and Colchester 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%	40.8%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1.7Lowest VT: 7%	10.9%±1.3Highest VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,125±$7kLowest 4% below VT	$97,891±$9kHighest 21% above VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$304,500±$26kLowest 4% below VT	$394,400±$25kHighest 25% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,218±$118Lowest about the VT average	$1,474±$122Highest 19% above VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,773Highest 15% above VT	$5,471Lowest 9% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.6%±12.7Lowest VT: 48.4%	46.2%±10.6Highest VT: 48.4%
	Colchester and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.1%Highest VT: 10.1%	7%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.8%Lowest VT: 73.2%	74.1%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT	1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 22% below VT	20 minHighest 15% below VT
Work from home	13.9%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9%	19%±3.9Highest VT: 16.9%
	Colchester and Hartford 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	#18 of 70 in VT
School district	Hartford School District	Colchester School District
High school in town	Hartford High School	Colchester High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.6Lowest	11.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.