Compare towns
Hartford vs Dover vs Portsmouth vs Essex Junction
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k median).
Dover has the youngest population (median age 36.9).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Essex Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
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 | Dover | Portsmouth | Essex Junction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736Lowest |
33,364Highest |
22,545 |
10,803 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
42.9±2 10% above U.S. |
39.3±3.1 about the U.S. average |
| Hartford and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
14%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Essex Junction 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hartford and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
64%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Essex Junction and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$106,219±$7kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$89,257±$16k 11% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$407,500±$20k 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,869±$111Highest 32% above U.S. |
$1,544±$135 9% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773Lowest 85% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$8,018 157% above U.S. |
$6,797 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.3%±14.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Essex Junction and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Portsmouth and Dover 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH | #14 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hartford School District | Dover School District | Portsmouth School District | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | Dover Senior High School | Portsmouth High School | Essex High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
12.7Highest |
11.4 |
11.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.