Compare towns
Hartford vs Colchester 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%).
Colchester has the youngest population (median age 39.3).
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 | Colchester | Waterbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,736 |
17,648Highest |
5,405Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9Highest about the VT average |
39.3±1.4Lowest 9% below VT |
43.2±3.7Highest about the VT average |
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.1%±2.5 VT: 17.9% |
21.9%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Waterbury and Colchester 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% |
19.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Hartford and Waterbury 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% |
54.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 VT: 7% |
10.9%±1.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,125±$7kLowest 4% below VT |
$97,891±$9k 21% above VT |
$103,917±$23kHighest 28% above VT |
| Waterbury and Colchester 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 |
$447,200±$40kHighest 41% above VT |
| Waterbury 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 |
$1,027±$535Lowest 17% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773 15% above VT |
$5,471Lowest 9% above VT |
$6,435Highest 28% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.2%±10.6 VT: 48.4% |
46.8%±21.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Waterbury and Colchester 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% |
7.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
74.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
70.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 22% below VT |
20 min 15% below VT |
30 minHighest 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
28.3%±6.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Waterbury 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 | #20 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hartford School District | Colchester School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | Colchester High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
11.8Highest |
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| 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.