Compare towns
Hartford vs Dover vs Rye vs Waterbury
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Waterbury has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
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 | Rye | Waterbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736 |
33,364Highest |
5,611 |
5,405Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Waterbury and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.5%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover 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±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$103,917±$23k 29% above U.S. |
| Rye and Waterbury 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. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$447,200±$40k 34% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118 14% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,027±$535Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Rye and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773Lowest 85% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$7,519 141% above U.S. |
$6,435 106% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.8%±21.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Waterbury 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% |
6.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 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 min 14% below U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.3%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye and Waterbury 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #20 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hartford School District | Dover School District | Rye School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | Dover Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
12.7Highest |
— | — |
| 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.