Compare towns
Hartford vs Dover vs Waterbury vs Lebanon
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%).
Waterbury has the most people working from home (28.3%).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
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 | Waterbury | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736 |
33,364Highest |
5,405Lowest |
14,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
43.2±3.7Highest 11% above U.S. |
38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Waterbury 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%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hartford and Lebanon 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% |
54.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5%Highest 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% |
3.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lebanon 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. |
$103,917±$23kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$98,147±$10k 22% above U.S. |
| Waterbury and Lebanon 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. |
$447,200±$40kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$385,400±$29k 16% above U.S. |
| Waterbury and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118 14% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,027±$535Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,744±$132Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Lebanon 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. |
$6,435 106% above U.S. |
$8,149 161% 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% |
46.8%±21.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest 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% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 30% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.3%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waterbury and Lebanon 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 | #20 of 70 in VT | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hartford School District | Dover School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | Dover Senior High School | None in town | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
12.7Highest |
— | 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.