Compare towns
Hartford vs Colchester vs Pomfret
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%).
Colchester has the highest household income ($98k).
Pomfret has the most people working from home (30.3%).
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 | Colchester | Pomfret |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,736 |
17,648Highest |
908Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.7% VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9 about the VT average |
39.3±1.4Lowest 9% below VT |
53.4±12.1Highest 24% above VT |
| Pomfret and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3 VT: 17.9% |
19.1%±2.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±6Lowest 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%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
17.9%±2.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Pomfret 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% VT: 43.8% |
40.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 VT: 7% |
10.9%±1.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,125±$7kLowest 4% below VT |
$97,891±$9kHighest 21% above VT |
$84,229±$8k 4% above VT |
| Colchester and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,500±$26kLowest 4% below VT |
$394,400±$25k 25% above VT |
$399,200±$144kHighest 26% above VT |
| Pomfret and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118 about the VT average |
$1,474±$122Highest 19% above VT |
$1,170±$98Lowest 5% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773 15% above VT |
$5,471Lowest 9% above VT |
$6,722Highest 33% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7 VT: 48.4% |
46.2%±10.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
24%±22.4Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
5.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
74.1% VT: 73.2% |
81.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1970Lowest 6 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 22% below VT |
20 min 15% below VT |
24 minHighest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
30.3%±10.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Pomfret and Colchester 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | Colchester High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
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.